mount and run coax down mast and through cabin

[Jebjobs]

Havent seen pics of anyone else beside me mounting a Shakespeare antenna on my mast head running the cable inside the mast then mounting a connector through the cabin connecting to a shorter cable on to the radio would very much like to see some pics of others set up before I begin mine all this so I can un step my mast for trailer Mac 21 1978

 

[jssailem]

First. If you can, vhf hates connectors. Each connection is .5 db reduction. If you can locate radio in a spot that the coax cable can be removed from back of radio and out of mast step each time you would be better off. That not possible, they make a male/male connector that permits two lengths of coax (with pl259 female connectors) to be joined. Or you can get coax cable and put on your own connectors. Female to male connection at antenna, female to male at the mast base, and female to male at the radio.

 

[Jebjobs]

I like the solid cable idea have you seen any boots or handy ideas for sealing the hole with coax installed

 

[jssailem]

My coax is inside the mast. Cut a hole through the mast step base the size of the od of a 6 inch piece of aluminum pipe with an id size larger than the cable/pl259 fitting. The pipe fit snug in the hole. Spread 3m 4000 around end of pipe and pressed pipe into hole. Added a bead of 4000 around edge of pipe and mast base.
Next added a piece of bilge hose to top of pipe to give me a curved shape for entry into pipe. When I fit the mast on to the base I make sure there is a loop in the coax. Water comes down the coax, drops off the loop. Coax goes up and into the tube/pipe and down into the boat, then connected to the radio.

That's my attempt at a no drip in the cabin design. I have drilled weep holes at the bottom of the mast to allow any water to exit to the deck.

I'm headed to the boat Sunday. I'll take a picture of the base and tubes then post.

 

[Sumner]

What I did at the top of the mast....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor2/outside-42.html

... and with the wiring....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor2/outside-41.html

...in the mast,

Sumner
=============================================================
1300 miles to The Bahamas and Back in the Mac...
Endeavour 37 Mods...
MacGregor 26-S Mods...http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/endeavour-main/endeavour-index.html
Mac Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida, Bahamas

 

[Jebjobs]

here it is monday where are the pics no pressure lol

 

[sailnewbie]

Mine is ran thru the mast with the same female/female connector at mast base with the short cable and it works great, however I'm never more than a few miles from people

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

..., vhf hates connectors. Each connection is .5 db reduction.

I'd like to see your reference to that.

There are a myriad of coax connectors and there are good and bad methods of using them. I've never seen a blatant generalization such as that be true and if someone actually wrote that as an authoritative statement, I'd like to know who.

Properly selected and installed connectors should have negligible insertion loss.