Used Sails

[streamfisherman100]

I was wondering if anyone knew the best way to obtain used sails. Are
sails boat specific or if I know the dimensions of the sail are they
interchangeable. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I have seen
loads of used sails from other boats of similar dimensions (Catalina 27
for example) Also I feel a quality stormjib should work well on
similar sized boats more easily than a mainsail. Is this the case?
Thanks again. --Richard

 

[albinvega1865]

Richard,

This place can be hit or miss, but definitely worth a try. I have found some good deals here:

Home - Bacon Sails

Bacon Sails & Marine Supplies We make boating better! Expert sail design, the finest sail making materials and our commitment to best-in-class customer service make Bacon Sails one of the world’s top sail brokers, trusted by cruisers and racers alike. Our sail loft is located in Annapolis, MD...

www.baconsails.com

Chris

streamfisherman100 streamfisherman100@... wrote: I was wondering if anyone knew the best way to obtain used sails. Are
sails boat specific or if I know the dimensions of the sail are they
interchangeable. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I have seen
loads of used sails from other boats of similar dimensions (Catalina 27
for example) Also I feel a quality stormjib should work well on
similar sized boats more easily than a mainsail. Is this the case?
Thanks again. --Richard

 

[mphalv]

I am just testing this web site. I haven't seen any new Vega group messages
since this post by Chris. Highly unusual.

Melanie Halvachs
V1826
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[albinvega1865]

Hey everyone,

I was out on the boat yesterday working on the engine and when I had finished I tried to hail the launch, but got no response, I tried the hailing channel a few times more, but again no response...I tried several other channels to see if perhaps that channel was tied up due to a club race that was going on and the launch was very busy, but again...nothing.

After getting the launch's attention with a few blasts of the air horn, I asked if we might try to go back to channel 68 and see if he could hear my transmission...he could not, but I could receive his clear as a bell?

When I depress the bar on the handset, the static/squelch cuts out as though it is making (or at least attempting) a transmission...

Any idea what might be plaguing my aging VHF Radio??? Time to get a new one?

Chris

 

[txsailcouple]

Most often the problem with VHF radio transmission is the antenna or cable since the cable and mounting are constantly subjected to the environment, (ie heat, water, corrosion) You can guess at the problem by replacing things but the best way to resolve the situation is to get a tech with a power/VSWR meter and determine where the problem is. If you were close enough to hail another boat and you received him loud and clear it does not rule out the antenna as the problem. At that distance you hardly need any antenna at all. If the antenna IS bad continuing to key the radio will only damage the transmitter eventually. Also if you buy a new radio it might work for a while and then quit if the antenna or cable is no good. This might also void the warranty if you install it yourself with a bad antenna.
SO... my advice is to get a tech to look at it.
Good luck
John
Southern Comfort Too

 

[albinvega1865]

Thanks John,

I replaced all the cables and connections, but used the original antenna that was on the boat. It very well could be the culprit...and at this in the game would require a trip up the mast.... (Drat)!

Chris
V1865 "Ready About"

John & Carol txsailcouple@... wrote: Most often the problem with VHF radio transmission is the antenna or cable since the cable and mounting are constantly subjected to the environment, (ie heat, water, corrosion) You can guess at the problem by replacing things but the best way to resolve the situation is to get a tech with a power/VSWR meter and determine where the problem is. If you were close enough to hail another boat and you received him loud and clear it does not rule out the antenna as the problem. At that distance you hardly need any antenna at all. If the antenna IS bad continuing to key the radio will only damage the transmitter eventually. Also if you buy a new radio it might work for a while and then quit if the antenna or cable is no good. This might also void the warranty if you install it yourself with a bad antenna.
SO... my advice is to get a tech to look at it.
Good luck
John
Southern Comfort Too

 

[pelagicasd]

Hi Richard, I once used a main from a Catalina 25 on Lyric. It was a good
fit. Catalina 27 might be a bit to big. Walt

 

[groundhogyh]

Maybe you could buy or borrow an antenna.

Hook it up to your radio with a piece of coax and maybe hold it up in the air.

Then re-try your communications experiment.

If it then works, either the antenna is bad or the cable you just installed is bad.

Then it would be time to go up the mast.

roy

 

[txsailcouple]

Chris,
If you haven't been up the mast yet you've missed the most vulnerable connection, the coax connector at the bottom of the antenna. If you have an ohm meter you might try disconnecting the antenna cable at the radio & checking the center conductor to the ground collar of the cable. This would normally check through the antenna as long as there is cable no short before the antenna base. If it is 'open' you have a problem there but if it's a 'short' (or almost) it still doesn't rule out a cable/antenna problem.
John

 

[groundhogyh]

I have been thinking about this...

Say the antenna is compromised. Like, it's half working.

If you are receiving some signal, even if it is close, shouldn't at least some of your transmitted signal get out too? I would think the other guy would pick up something.

My gut feeling is that the problem is in your radio. Maybe that switch you mentioned.

Or when replacing your cable, maybe you transmitted into an open circuit? When it wasn't connected?

Oh well, just my two cents..

Of course that doesn't mean your antenna is not bad too.
I just replaced my antenna (I think it was original) with one I found on an old mast in the marina.

I have the ability to test them at work.
The original antenna looked fine, but it wasn't. And the failure mode on these antennas is probably not a hard failure. They just degrade to the point that you cant get any distance communications.

And maybe, like the previous post mentioned, you might eventually pop your transmitter if the antenna gets bad enough.

roy

 

[albinvega1865]

Yes...possibly I will get the emergency antenna and try that. If it transmits, there is my problem. I have already started looking into a hand held for transmitting and will continue to use the other for weather reports in the evening (if the problem can't be solved).

Thanks for the advice!

groundhog groundhog1rb@... wrote:

Maybe you could buy or borrow an antenna.

Hook it up to your radio with a piece of coax and maybe hold it up in the air.

Then re-try your communications experiment.

If it then works, either the antenna is bad or the cable you just installed is bad.

Then it would be time to go up the mast.

roy

 

[albinvega1865]

True...

Before she went in, I ran up a new Coax Cable, connectors both at the antenna end and the radio connection end. All checked out with the meter. I figured that all was well, but I was kindly reminded that this is sailing after all and nothing is ever easy!!!

I will take your advice though and run through the system again. It was blowing 15 knots yesterday and it was quite bumpy on the ball....no way did I consider a trip up the stick!!! Perhaps in a nice calm anchorage this weekend?

Thanks for the tips!
Chris

John & Carol txsailcouple@... wrote: Chris,
If you haven't been up the mast yet you've missed the most vulnerable connection, the coax connector at the bottom of the antenna. If you have an ohm meter you might try disconnecting the antenna cable at the radio & checking the center conductor to the ground collar of the cable. This would normally check through the antenna as long as there is cable no short before the antenna base. If it is 'open' you have a problem there but if it's a 'short' (or almost) it still doesn't rule out a cable/antenna problem.
John

 

[albinvega1865]

Roy...I agree 100%
It is an old Shakespear and it really should have been replaced. I have had great luck with Metz antennas and they are made locally (Here in New Hampshire). I will grab one.....if that doesn't work, the bottom line is that I have new Coax, new connectors, a new antenna....and (GULP) a new radio????

Cheers
Chris

groundhog groundhog1rb@... wrote:
I have been thinking about this...

Say the antenna is compromised. Like, it's half working.

If you are receiving some signal, even if it is close, shouldn't at least some of your transmitted signal get out too? I would think the other guy would pick up something.

My gut feeling is that the problem is in your radio. Maybe that switch you mentioned.

Or when replacing your cable, maybe you transmitted into an open circuit? When it wasn't connected?

Oh well, just my two cents..

Of course that doesn't mean your antenna is not bad too.
I just replaced my antenna (I think it was original) with one I found on an old mast in the marina.

I have the ability to test them at work.
The original antenna looked fine, but it wasn't. And the failure mode on these antennas is probably not a hard failure. They just degrade to the point that you cant get any distance communications.

And maybe, like the previous post mentioned, you might eventually pop your transmitter if the antenna gets bad enough.

roy

 

[groundhogyh]

If you do have to go up...

Coat things in sealant, like the connectors after you tighten them.

The path for the antenna cable...
When it leaves the antenna to go to the hole in the mast (I am assuming the cable is inside the mast) if you can make the cable dip down below the hole in the mast before it goes in, it is better. This drip loop will make less water want to go in the hole (and down your cable and into the vent hole at the mast base).

Go to the archives and search through posts about water comming down the mast and also the other topic is noise from cables banging around inside the mast.

Roy

 

[groundhogyh]

Sorry to keep yapping about this (but I can't help myself, I'm nuts)...

Another idea is the converse of the previous one.
On some of these handheld VHF radios, the antenna unscrews to reveal an SMA connector.

You can buy an adaptor (SMA to UHF) and connect your handheld VHF radio to the cable/Antenna and see if it works.

rb

 

[txsailcouple]

Ok.. two last things to check. #1 Is your mic removable from the radio? If so you could have a bad transducer or a broken wire in the mic cord. (translation: transducer = the device that does the opposite of a speaker translating audio to electrical signal) You may be transmitting power but without modulation there would be nothing to hear. Quick way to test this is get someone with a receiver very close and see if their radio breaks 'squelch' when you key down on the same channel. Also try swapping your mic out.

#2 If you have a current meter that will show your current drain from the battery, turn everything else off and see if you have a substantial needle indication when you key down. If you don't chances are that you're not putting out power.

Good luck...
John

 

[albinvega1865]

Really???

I would never have known that. When we get the hand held, I might give that at try.

Chris

groundhog groundhog1rb@... wrote:
Sorry to keep yapping about this (but I can't help myself, I'm nuts)...

Another idea is the converse of the previous one.
On some of these handheld VHF radios, the antenna unscrews to reveal an SMA connector.

You can buy an adaptor (SMA to UHF) and connect your handheld VHF radio to the cable/Antenna and see if it works.

rb

 

[albinvega1865]

John and Carol,

I can definitely try the latter, but this is such an old unit that the mic is built-in...it is permanent. Wish that I could just trade the mic out for another like many of the new ones, but...alas...I cannot.

Chris

John & Carol txsailcouple@... wrote: Ok.. two last things to check. #1 Is your mic removable from the radio? If so you could have a bad transducer or a broken wire in the mic cord. (translation: transducer = the device that does the opposite of a speaker translating audio to electrical signal) You may be transmitting power but without modulation there would be nothing to hear. Quick way to test this is get someone with a receiver very close and see if their radio breaks 'squelch' when you key down on the same channel. Also try swapping your mic out.

#2 If you have a current meter that will show your current drain from the battery, turn everything else off and see if you have a substantial needle indication when you key down. If you don't chances are that you're not putting out power.

Good luck...
John

 

[albinvega1865]

Hi Alisdair!

I have a brand new battery that was put in that very day, and I have another back-up on board that tested out fine. I definitely could see where that would be as problem with both reception and transmission.

I don't know anyone at this particular boatyard, but will try to chase someone down to try to test the unit with another antenna as you suggested. WE are headed down there this weekend, so I will let you folks know what transpired. Hopefully I didn't fry the radio, but it just may be time to deep six the old girl as it is well over 20 years old...almost thirty!!!

Thanks for the suggestions
Best Regards
ChrisAlisdair Gurney yahoo@... wrote: