Masthead antenna and wind indicator

[popeye the sailorman]

Hi all.
I have purchased a Vitronix antenna with a Hawk wind indicator.
I'm thinking if I could improve the robustness of the unit before it's mounted to help with the longevity.
This will be the second one I've had in three years.
Prior to that the unit which was the same, was on the boat when we purchased, must have been up there for ten years or more.
So can I ask has anybody had similar thoughts and come up with a solution.
Thanks in advance.

 

[johnalison]

I can’t say I have ever had a problem with Windex or antennae over nearly forty years, which is more than I can say for wind transducers.

 

[alahol2]

It helps if you can prevent the crows from treating it as a fairground ride.

 

[dunedin]

…
I'm thinking if I could improve the robustness of the unit before it's mounted to help with the longevity.
This will be the second one I've had in three years.
….

So what bits have broken that you think need to be strengthened?

Ours has never broken, though one did blow clean off in a severe storm last year

 

[Refueler]

My Windex arrow has the arrow head part of the arm snapped off - probably by fat seagull trying to perch on it ...

I now have a stainless steel one to put up there later ...

To strengthen and stiffen the antenna .... you can get stiff thin wall plastic tube - slide that over the antenna whip before fastening the windex sitting onto the plastic tube ... BUT make sure its plain plastic - not Carbon Fibre !! CF will shield the antenna !!

 

[PabloPicasso]

Those windex combined antenna jobbies are hopeless

As indeed are the simple arrow type, rhat seem to break far too easily.

An opportunity for a new product?

A short flexible antenna at the mast headshould be high enough to work well? Or get a metz antenna.

Still need a much more robust wind arrow
Perhaps a softer slightly rubbery material that could abosrb a bird strike rather than a flimsy rigid plastic like the existing ones.

 

[popeye the sailorman]

So what bits have broken that you think need to be strengthened?

Ours has never broken, though one did blow clean off in a severe storm last year

Hi Dunedin.
Well we lost the last one sometime over the winter. Previously we lost the port wind angle arm. Looking from the deck it seems that the antenna has snapped off flush with the plastic base the co-ax is intact
.
Refueler think that's a good idea.

I am a little sceptical as to how long my new one will last.
Specially as the one supplied was already broken, however the supplier has been golden and sent another.

 

[dunedin]

Hi Dunedin.
Well we lost the last one sometime over the winter. Previously we lost the port wind angle arm. Looking from the deck it seems that the antenna has snapped off flush with the plastic base the co-ax is intact
.
Refueler think that's a good idea.

I am a little sceptical as to how long my new one will last.
Specially as the one supplied was already broken, however the supplier has been golden and sent another.

Interesting - the wind angle arm could be bird damage, they are a bit flimsy. But probably could be easily 3D printed or otherwise bodged.
Not sure where exactly the antenna “snapped off”. Our last one the antenna came out of the base

 

[popeye the sailorman]

Interesting - the wind angle arm could be bird damage, they are a bit flimsy. But probably could be easily 3D printed or otherwise bodged.
Not sure where exactly the antenna “snapped off”. Our last one the antenna came out of the base

Hi Dunedin.
They must be glued in looking at the my new one at home. I can see evidence of the glue.
I think I'm going to use some epoxy where the antenna goes into the base.
Also the underside of the wind arrow is hollow, (a sort of V shape.)
I suppose to reduce the weight and make it more responsive but that's at the expense of robustness.
So I'm thinking about filling the void with epoxy too.
Will it make it too heavy? I don't know.

 

[dunedin]

Hi Dunedin.
They must be glued in looking at the my new one at home. I can see evidence of the glue.
I think I'm going to use some epoxy where the antenna goes into the base.
Also the underside of the wind arrow is hollow, (a sort of V shape.)
I suppose to reduce the weight and make it more responsive but that's at the expense of robustness.
So I'm thinking about filling the void with epoxy too.
Will it make it too heavy? I don't know.

Don’t add any epoxy to the rotating vane / arrow - unless apply equivalent on both sides to ensure remains balanced. Otherwise won’t work when heeling.

 

[OCuea]

Hi Dunedin.
They must be glued in looking at the my new one at home. I can see evidence of the glue.
I think I'm going to use some epoxy where the antenna goes into the base.
Also the underside of the wind arrow is hollow, (a sort of V shape.)
I suppose to reduce the weight and make it more responsive but that's at the expense of robustness.
So I'm thinking about filling the void with epoxy too.
Will it make it too heavy? I don't know.

Good practical ideas you have there PBO rules. I was going to suggest Metz (flexible stainless rod and lifetime guaranteed body) but since the supplier replaced your broken one it sounds you have it all sorted well.

 

[popeye the sailorman]

Don’t add any epoxy to the rotating vane / arrow - unless apply equivalent on both sides to ensure remains balanced. Otherwise won’t work when heeling.

Yes I agree entirely, there is a metal bar wedged on the underside to adjust for balance when horizontal. Maybe I could stick it on afterwards.
These are the ideas going through my head atm.
Maybe I should have opted for a seperate antenna and stand alone windex, looking at them online they look more robust than the hawk does.
PS I appreciate your input.

 

[Refueler]

Interesting - the wind angle arm could be bird damage, they are a bit flimsy. But probably could be easily 3D printed or otherwise bodged.
Not sure where exactly the antenna “snapped off”. Our last one the antenna came out of the base

Metz ?

I could not figure out why my Windex on my 25ft boat was always out of true ... I would go up - align - tighten ... then first time out sailing - darned thing is wrong again.

When I had mast down - I found out why. The Metz has a collet form for holding the antenna whip ...

My present Windex on the 25ft is one I 3D printed :

 

[popeye the sailorman]

That Metz base certainly looks built to last.