I have a 23' O'Day and primarily a trailer sailor. I'm in the process of installing a METZ VHF antenna on the mast. The installation seems to be pretty straight forward. However, I'm a bit leery about maintaining water tight integrity after drilling through the deck (near the foot of the mast) to install a through deck fitting (connect/disconnect for stepping and un-stepping the mast). Before I proceed I'm hoping to get some advice or lessons learned regarding installation and proper sealing of through deck fittings. Additionally, can the base plate on the mast be easily removed and re-installed? Removing the base plate will allow the antenna cable to be easily pulled through the inside of the mast. Any words of wisdom or experience on this type of installation ?
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Justin - O'day Owners' Web
5200
There has been a lot of debate over the use of various marine sealants on this board, and every other one I've subscirbed to. Personally, I use 3M 5200 for anything I really want sealed. Others think its too permanent and use less tenacious products. Personally, I'd rather have a bit of a hassel if the fitting needs to come off rather than risk potentially catastrophic damage to the core of my deck, especially in the area of the mast step. If I were you, here's what I'd do. Using a hole saw a little bit bigger than the the through deck fitting carefully cut through the top skin of glass and into the core. Be very careful not to cut into the bottom skin of glass. Then use a chisel to remove the core from the area of the hole. Clean it will. Fill with thinkened epoxy mix. Don't mess around with the cheap stuff, use West System, M.A.S, or similar. Fair the mix to the deck. Now drill through the epoxy to make your cable channel. Now, even if it does leak you will not infiltrate your core. Then I'd use 5200 to seal the fitting to the deck. For what its worth, my cable pass throughs do no leak. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
There has been a lot of debate over the use of various marine sealants on this board, and every other one I've subscirbed to. Personally, I use 3M 5200 for anything I really want sealed. Others think its too permanent and use less tenacious products. Personally, I'd rather have a bit of a hassel if the fitting needs to come off rather than risk potentially catastrophic damage to the core of my deck, especially in the area of the mast step. If I were you, here's what I'd do. Using a hole saw a little bit bigger than the the through deck fitting carefully cut through the top skin of glass and into the core. Be very careful not to cut into the bottom skin of glass. Then use a chisel to remove the core from the area of the hole. Clean it will. Fill with thinkened epoxy mix. Don't mess around with the cheap stuff, use West System, M.A.S, or similar. Fair the mix to the deck. Now drill through the epoxy to make your cable channel. Now, even if it does leak you will not infiltrate your core. Then I'd use 5200 to seal the fitting to the deck. For what its worth, my cable pass throughs do no leak. Justin - O'day Owners' Web
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Don Evans
An Alternative...
to the mast head install, is to buy a fiberglass 10 footer and hang it off the transom. I used to have a mast head Metz, but typicaly would only last a few years as the exposure to the elements, chafe and the inability to attend to it during the season would cut its life short. I have a Shakespeare stick on a ratchet fitting off the transom and have been impressed with its range and durability (the loss of mast height will reduce your transmission distance, thats a given). I passed the coax through an existing clamshell vent on the transom. I agree with Justins description of "potting" the deck fitting first. I still have my original rubber gland cable through deck fitting but is serving no purpose at this time. Good luck removing the mast step plate. My machine screws have become "one with the mast". To get mine off I would have to drill them out. Try liberal squirts of penetrol and some heat, otherwise get the drill ready. You could run the VHF cable down the outside of the mast using cable clamps to secure it close to the front of the mast. Don
to the mast head install, is to buy a fiberglass 10 footer and hang it off the transom. I used to have a mast head Metz, but typicaly would only last a few years as the exposure to the elements, chafe and the inability to attend to it during the season would cut its life short. I have a Shakespeare stick on a ratchet fitting off the transom and have been impressed with its range and durability (the loss of mast height will reduce your transmission distance, thats a given). I passed the coax through an existing clamshell vent on the transom. I agree with Justins description of "potting" the deck fitting first. I still have my original rubber gland cable through deck fitting but is serving no purpose at this time. Good luck removing the mast step plate. My machine screws have become "one with the mast". To get mine off I would have to drill them out. Try liberal squirts of penetrol and some heat, otherwise get the drill ready. You could run the VHF cable down the outside of the mast using cable clamps to secure it close to the front of the mast. Don
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Josh
Fishing the mast...
A couple of things, all of my own experience.... First things first, make sure that where you are putting the through hull fitting it wont get in the way of anything. I checked mine, and messured it, then drilled. I wanted to make sure that the door through the bulkhead would pass under it. It did, until I added the cable, which comes down straight and added an inch. DOH. I put it in the V-berth because I didn't want the unsightly cable chased along the main cabin area. Ah well, live and learn. Secondly, and this is something I've been meaning to inform everyone of. There's an item you can get at any large chain hardware store called a fish tape. They come in two forms, one is fiberglass and the other is spring steel. Both are stiff, but flexible. You can push them down the holes you drilled for the coax. When it gets to the other end of the mast, use some sort of rigged hook to get the end out the other hole. Tie on your coax, and pull it through. For the price you pay, and the time you save I think it's worth it. Well, that and I use one at work so I already own one. Josh
A couple of things, all of my own experience.... First things first, make sure that where you are putting the through hull fitting it wont get in the way of anything. I checked mine, and messured it, then drilled. I wanted to make sure that the door through the bulkhead would pass under it. It did, until I added the cable, which comes down straight and added an inch. DOH. I put it in the V-berth because I didn't want the unsightly cable chased along the main cabin area. Ah well, live and learn. Secondly, and this is something I've been meaning to inform everyone of. There's an item you can get at any large chain hardware store called a fish tape. They come in two forms, one is fiberglass and the other is spring steel. Both are stiff, but flexible. You can push them down the holes you drilled for the coax. When it gets to the other end of the mast, use some sort of rigged hook to get the end out the other hole. Tie on your coax, and pull it through. For the price you pay, and the time you save I think it's worth it. Well, that and I use one at work so I already own one. Josh
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Ed
Thru Deck Install
I read a good idea about installing thru deck hardware. Instead of just drilling holes, laying down a bed of your favorite sealant and screwing down the fitting, consider this. Mark the locations of the holes and drill 1/8" oversize. Cover the bottom of the hole with masking tape (from inside the cabin). Fill the hole with epoxy. After the epoxy cures, drill the correct size hole (through the center of the epoxy). If the bedding material leaks, water will run down the hole into the cabin, but will not migrate into the core material of the deck. The big problem with leaks is not water on the cabin floor, but rotting core material that compromises the integrity of the deck. Or did you already know this trick? New to me. Ed
I read a good idea about installing thru deck hardware. Instead of just drilling holes, laying down a bed of your favorite sealant and screwing down the fitting, consider this. Mark the locations of the holes and drill 1/8" oversize. Cover the bottom of the hole with masking tape (from inside the cabin). Fill the hole with epoxy. After the epoxy cures, drill the correct size hole (through the center of the epoxy). If the bedding material leaks, water will run down the hole into the cabin, but will not migrate into the core material of the deck. The big problem with leaks is not water on the cabin floor, but rotting core material that compromises the integrity of the deck. Or did you already know this trick? New to me. Ed
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richj
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richj
1 more step
Rick, I watch a lot of guys spend a lot of time sealing odds and ends on the boat, especially cables, wires etc...and they will eventually leak if proper care is not given, you see, no matter what sealant you use, wire will not adhear to it, unless you lightly skuff the wires casing, this will give the sealant something to grab onto. sounds weird, but it works...... good luck richj
Rick, I watch a lot of guys spend a lot of time sealing odds and ends on the boat, especially cables, wires etc...and they will eventually leak if proper care is not given, you see, no matter what sealant you use, wire will not adhear to it, unless you lightly skuff the wires casing, this will give the sealant something to grab onto. sounds weird, but it works...... good luck richj
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