VHF Antenna

[jbrock]

How do I attach a VHF antenna to my M25 masthead? How do I get the wire into the cabin to the radio? Thanks!

 

[Joe]

The new antenna will come with a bracket.... if you purchase an antenna designated for sailboats..... you can tell the differences when you compare with other styles... Pop rivets or self tapping screws to attach the bracket to the mast, be sure to protect the areas where dissimilar metals come in to contact with an anti electrolysis product... here's one for example.


You'll need to use coaxial wire to connect antenna to radio...you can run the line outside the mast to the deck connection using cable ties to secure it. Or you can run the line inside the mast which will require drilling a hole near the bracket and one at the base to exit. Before you decide, inspect the existing wiring in your mast, you may discover a more convenient way to get the wire into the cabin.
How you connect the wire at the base is up to you... but one way is to insert a water tight connecter between the mast wire and the cabin wire... the connector can be through deck mounted near the mast base.

 

[jbrock]

Thanks, Joe. Very helpful! Where did this last image come from? Do you have the link for that through deck mount? Thanks again.

 

[Joe]

Thanks, Joe. Very helpful! Where did this last image come from? Do you have the link for that through deck mount? Thanks again.

google is your friend. try something like "through deck coaxial connector" or go to an online chandlery like www.westmarine.com or www.defender.com and search there.

 

[timebandit]

It looks like you have an internal halyard for your main that may complicate things a bit in running the antenna cable internally.
Do you also have a steaming and anchor light on your mast?

 

[jbrock]

Yes, timebandit, I do have an internal halyard and I have a steaming light wired internally that exits at the base of the mast.