Co-ax deckplug

[webcraft]

No professional would use one of these connectors, they are rubbish. The correct way is to use a deck gland and then fit a proper connector below decks. One such way is to use a Scanstrut deck gland of a suitable size so the the connector can pass through the hole in the deck and the gland body that's screwed to the deck. It's also acceptable to use a cable dorade or a swanneck.

There is no 'correct way', IMO, just whatever works and gives good service. I have a deck gland on one boat and a deck plug on the other. Both work. I accept that over twenty years there is less likelihood of trouble with a deck gland, but then the best thing is also to have an unbroken cable run from masthead to VHF, which is far too difficult on most boats.Fitting a deck gland to Fairwinds and organising access to it from below is a huge faff and the deck plug has worked fine for 15 years.

I think it also depends on how often your mast comes down.

Anyway, I have taken the old one apart and seen how it works, but prefer not to re-use it because it is a bit corroded, nylon bits a bit flabby etc. A very nice forumite is sending me an unused one - I love this forum!

- W

 

[Refueler]

My mast has to come down quite often as there are 3 bridges between me and sea .... deck plug is so much less to play with.