antenna installation, mast down?

[marco909]

Hi, here we go, first in a long series of installing various bits and pieces on my Corribee. She sits in the yard at the moment with mast down. Most of the guides to installing VHF antennas suggest dropping weighted lines but that won't work with my currently horizontal affair. Any suggestions as to how I proceed, or should I just bite the bullet, raise the mast and then face my demons with a climbing session?

 

[oldmanofthehills]

No No No !

You need an electricians stiff wire roll (Sprung steel) with a hook on the end that you poke through from which ever end you like and attach a cord too if from top or the wire itself if from bottom. Then withdraw the wire

Steel Draw Tape 15m

or tape

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-750...ocphy=9045622&hvtargid=pla-446140635081&psc=1

 

[Alex_Blackwood]

Hi, here we go, first in a long series of installing various bits and pieces on my Corribee. She sits in the yard at the moment with mast down. Most of the guides to installing VHF antennas suggest dropping weighted lines but that won't work with my currently horizontal affair. Any suggestions as to how I proceed, or should I just bite the bullet, raise the mast and then face my demons with a climbing session?

It doesn't have to be vertical so long as the weight will drop down. Otherwise a piece of stiff wire. Do a "GOOGLE" search for "Fish Wire"
Drat, Just beaten!

 

[marco909]

No No No !

You need an electricians stiff wire roll (Sprung steel) with a hook on the end that you poke through from which ever end you like and attach a cord too if from top or the wire itself if from bottom. Then withdraw the wire

Steel Draw Tape 15m

or tape

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-750...ocphy=9045622&hvtargid=pla-446140635081&psc=1

Thanks Old Man, that's great. Didn't know a specific tool existed for the job but I am relieved that it does!

 

[Laysula]

You might even find a scrap piece of rigging wire in the yard.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

You might even find a scrap piece of rigging wire in the yard.

Not a bad alternative suggestion even if mast up. The clutter inside masts often prevents simple gravity doing its job - cables, internal halliards, expanded foam to stop things rattling etc.

 

[Dellquay13]

cable access rods, like a chimney sweeps brush... They can be easier to use than fish tapes. Best to cover the joints with insulation tape to make sure they don't unscrew at the wrong moment.

here's an example;

10 X CABLE ACCESS KITS ELECTRICIANS PULLER RODS WIRES WIRE PUSH ROD DIY TOOL NEW | eBay

 

[oldmanofthehills]

cable access rods, like a chimney sweeps brush... They can be easier to use than fish tapes. Best to cover the joints with insulation tape to make sure they don't unscrew at the wrong moment.

here's an example;

10 X CABLE ACCESS KITS ELECTRICIANS PULLER RODS WIRES WIRE PUSH ROD DIY TOOL NEW | eBay

That pack only goes 3.3 metres so OP would need 3 kits. Probably laysulas suggestion of old stiff rigging wire might be the best option if available

 

[marco909]

Thanks, there is already a fair amount of stuff in the mast already with masthead light cables and halyards, will have a good poke around with my newly acquired draw tape. No particular rush, lots of other stuff to do in any case

 

[BobnLesley]

...a fair amount of stuff in the mast already with masthead light cables...

Then attach a mousing-line to the masthead cable at the bottom, pull it out from the top, connect it and the new VHF cable to the mousing-line and pull both back down together.

 

[lustyd]

When I did this on my Vivacity I just pushed the cable through and it got to the other end just fine. More importantly when installing the cable add cable ties with long tails every couple of feet to stop it clanging about overnight.

 

[pandos]

You might even find a scrap piece of rigging wire in the yard.

Second rigging wire, works a treat...dosent need to be scrap...one of your shrouds would do...put some tape on the threads to protect them...

Pull all of the other lines Taut so you don't get tangles inside

 

[Martin_J]

Then attach a mousing-line to the masthead cable at the bottom, pull it out from the top, connect it and the new VHF cable to the mousing-line and pull both back down together.

Sounds like the easiest way, even do it by replacing the oldest wire there as well as pulling through a new.

Perhaps also pull through a spare mouse line so you've got it there for next time.

 

[Dellquay13]

That pack only goes 3.3 metres so OP would need 3 kits. Probably laysulas suggestion of old stiff rigging wire might be the best option if available

I'm used to most packs being 10 rods @ 1m each = 10m reach, i didn't look too closely at the detail of that one, there are some small ones to avoid...

 

[Moodysailor]

Fish tape, or pull rod - whatever they are called. Had mine for years, it's one of those tools I don't use often, but when I do I realise why I bought it!

Here's a link to one in Screwfix, 60ft so should be plenty long enough Fish Tape

 

[Daydream believer]

That pack only goes 3.3 metres so OP would need 3 kits. Probably laysulas suggestion of old stiff rigging wire might be the best option if available

As suggested in post #14 --Draper make them in 1 meter lengths which I feel may be better.I have both
puller rods

 

[Daydream believer]

When I did this on my Vivacity I just pushed the cable through and it got to the other end just fine. More importantly when installing the cable add cable ties with long tails every couple of feet to stop it clanging about overnight.

My mast has a cable conduit. That avoids a cable getting round any halyards.
Trouble is that if I want to put anything through it, I have to take off one end fitting first

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Sounds like the easiest way, even do it by replacing the oldest wire there as well as pulling through a new.

Perhaps also pull through a spare mouse line so you've got it there for next time.

A spare mousing line in the conduit and also another one inside the mast but outside the conduit, just in case a halyard gets lost or breaks.