Recent content by habeer

I use a 100 watt soldering gun. The PL259 has a lot of mass to heat up, and irons with a small tip (less than 3/16") won't get it done. +1 on the silver plated connectors. I've been soldering for fifty years or so, and the leaded solder is much easier to use. Previous employer had a zealous...

When I rewired my mast four years ago, I used 'Delphi' (now called Aptiv) connectors - these are used a lot under the hood of automobiles. Water seals on the connector body, and wire entry (backside). I have two exposed to weather on my spreader lights, and one multi conductor inside the mast...

It's the garage/gym flooring - cheap as chips here in the US. https://www.homedepot.com/p/TrafficMaster-Dark-Gray-24-in-x-24-in-x-0-47-in-Foam-Interlocking-Gym-Garage-Flooring-24-sq-ft-6-Pack-TM1264/312428921

Defender.com is online, with a brick and mortar store in Connecticut. Westmarine.com has numerous stores, with higher prices than Defender - but free shipping to your local store is mighty convenient.

Fresh butyl tape will squish out as all have said. It does have an affinity for getting into non-skid. Excess easily removed with a plastic scraper or spatula., in non-skid a ball of butyl tape can help pull it out (I keep a plastic wrapped ball of squeezed out tape just for this purpose) The...

Kroil is brilliant. It takes time to work, like most penetrating oils, so patience is a key tool. If your aluminum part is frozen to steel, you can use heat - to avoid damaging seals, I should think wrapping the aluminum with some cloth rags and using hot water from a kettle might shift it...

I like Cruzpro (just a satisfied customer). They have a single battery VM and a three-bank VM. Current draw is 17-18 mA. LCD backlight. cruzpro.com is their website.

Amphenol 082-97-RFX is a good quality low-cost connector, more than adequate for VHF. I'm not too clear on what's going on in your 'box', sounds like you are interested in receiving, and as low loss as possible (hence RG-213). If you are going to a circuit board, the solder cup connector, with...

Consider using a 'N' connector with RG-213, because it's so hard to bend RG-213 and it'll put a lot of torque (could shear off) a BNC connector in a marine environment. N connectors are available in bulkhead style as well. If you must use BNC, you can terminate the RG-213 in N, and use a short...

I've used Ammonia successfully to dissolve aluminium corrosion - in my case, it was steel bicycle pedals stuck in aluminium cranks. Heat helps, but ammonia carried the day. Harold

Once a year in spring certainly, and then whenever something is amiss (usually just one more time) and then I use my Topclimber to go up on other people's boats. If you go up for money, you'll reach pay back in three or four years. For friends, I'll go up for beer or wine.

I took a look at the specs - said high speed ethernet - I presume 100 megabit - so you could solder and shrinktube, bear in mind the twist is important for interference to the radar itself, and the rest of electronic equipment. I agree the best way is to install RJ45 connectors and a coupler...

Stamoid is brilliant. flat fell seam at the boom, folded binding around the edge, grommets, and some light line to tie it off. Plastic hooks to the lifelines.

US unique Two things that I would commend to you: Native Americans (Indians) -- Navajo nation (near Grand Canyon) - amazing natural beauty and tragedy of the rez. Civil Rights movement (Detroit/Memphis among other places). the disparity continues. These are our 'warts' in the US, truly, I...

some LED's I wouldn't live without on my boat Granted, I'm in the states, but: http://www.inspiredled.com/ I've got two strips in my engine compartment, and one in the galley. Perfect. http://www.optekinc.com/datasheets/OVM12F3R7.pdf I use a white one for my Windex light, and I cut a slot...