vhf mast cable

[mister_j]

I'm trying to replace the terminals on the mast vhf coaxial antenna cable on my '87 Hunter 28.5, but can't find a reference on it with the size of the cable. Assuming that it's the original, and it seems old enough to be, does anyone have an idea what size the cable is? My guess is rf58 or 59, but I have no idea.Attached is a photo of the masthead terminal.Thanks, mates.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

it should be RG58

It is not an RG59 as that is the wrong impedance. You might want to carefully inspect the coax by stripping the cable down a foot or so to see if it has corroded in which case you'll need to replace it. The coax connector visible in the picture is the crimp-on type which invariably allows water in and should not be used. Any PL259 coax soldered connector will syffice as a replacement if the coax is good as long as you also obtain the reducer fitting for the smaller RG58 or preferably RG8x.

 

[Frizzgrig]

Cable?

Hard to say from your picture, as you covered the cable with shadow. I would guess it is either RG-58 or RG-8x (the x is important as RG-8 is much larger than RG-8x). If you can pull a few feet of it out where you can see it, it may be labeled on the side of the cable.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Jeff

if it's original, it's RG 58. No boat mfg would have used the higher impedance RG 59 coax. They both would use the same connector as the cable diameter is equivalent. Hopefully you won't find the result of water penetration in the copper braid.