Installing a new VHF antenna and coax on the mast

Status
Not open for further replies.
B

Bill

I will be replacing my antenna at the top of my mast and the coax also. I have been told that the coax is an ordeal. Does anyone have any advice that has done this before? Bill
 
Mar 1, 2004
351
Catalina 387 Cedar Mills-Lake Texhoma
And make sure

that the new coax is tinned coax. Normal coax will corrode in a hurry.
 
Mar 1, 2004
351
Catalina 387 Cedar Mills-Lake Texhoma
On Boats

always use tinned coax and electrical wire. That is for both A/C, D/C and RF. Copper will corrode away over a period of time in the marine enviroment. Well actually it turns into the green stuff which is copper oxide.
 
Jun 5, 2004
7
- - Bridgeport, CT
pilot line

Use your old coax to pull a sturdy pilot line thru your mast. Make sure your pilot line goes thru the coax and attaches to itself so you have a continuous line. Use the new pilot line to pull your new coax thru the mast. Keep the pilot line continuous until you are sure that the coax is in position correctly. It will save a lot of bad language if you lose the coax inside of your mast. good luck kevin
 
P

Peter

And make sure you

run a line down inside the mast that you sieze the coax to, so that the weight of the coax is supported by the line, not by the coax itself. Otherwise, the stress on the coax from supporting its own weight will strain the connections and you'll have discontinuity problems earlier than you should.
 
Aug 8, 2006
340
Catalina 34 Naples FL
use the large diameter coax

There are 2 diameter sizes in the cable. Use the largeest diameter. I have had occassion sailing in the Dry Tortugas (70 miles out) to need a VHF to report a Vessel in Distress and although there were several boats in the vicinity mine was the only one getting out in the weather we were experiencing. I was also the only boat that had the large diameter cable. Size matters. IT costs only a little more. Terry
 
Status
Not open for further replies.