Deck Gland which one, or two?

[seumask]

I have decided to replace the cable connection deck fittings with a deck gland or two and I am wondering if it is better to have one per cable, one RG58 ( 6mm) and one 3 core (9mm), or a combined one.
Does it make any real difference plastic or aluminium in the UK, as the plastic ones seem to be considerably cheaper, and is there a preferable brand the ones I have seen on the Web mostly seem to be Index Marine.
What does the forum think, your valued opinion sought.

 

[Cloven]

Are you talking about connections at the base of the mast, or other through deck connections or both? The perceived wisdom on mast connections is that if possible, take the wires down through a single "swan neck" type feed pipe and then make the connections below decks using a choc block or similar. Having said that, I have individual Bulgin push-in type connectors as that's what the boat came with and also I had to drop the mast each winter for storage. I now do not need to drop the mast and If I ever have to change, as the holes are already there, I will go for individual deck glands but with the connections made below deck.

As for the other fittings, I use individual deck glands for each cable. This allows me to access each individually rather than having to deal with a multi cable set up.

There is no doubt that the push-on deck connectors are more prone to corrosion and particularly so when they are disconnected when the mast is down. I regularly had to redo or replace connectors.

Hope this helps.

 

[Salty John]

As you have only two cables of relatively small diameter you could use one deck gland. I'd recommend Index Marine. The M40 should do.
With this gland you drill the holes in the tapered seal yourself and you can also split the seal so that you can remove the coax cable with connector still attached. You could also use two glands, in which case two SS1's would be best. They have a split seal (SS) and are predrilled for 4.5 to 9mm cable.
Whether you have plastic or aluminium is a choice based on cost, but I wouldn't have plastic deck glands on my boat. They are usually located at the base of the mast and too easily stepped on. Aluminium will withstand this treatment but plastic won't.