My VHF Antenna and Hawk fell off yesterday.

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jaminb

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Third sail of the season four weeks after replacement rigging and mast hoist. The antenna was removed and replaced prior and post lift.

I cant see any past threads of complete failure, just bird damage. Would you say incorrect installation or failed unit?

I would like to replace with the same to avoid replacing the mast bracket. It had a brass nipple on the bracket but i didn't note how the clamp worked - are they a universal fitting or specific to the manufacturer.

many thanks
 
It's happened to us. You don't say what broke or came undone for it to happen or what make it was. Our was a Banten aerial, we hit a big wave, slammed and it flew off, broken at the bottom of the whip.
 
The Vtronix/Hawk combined whip and wind indicator has, from memory, a plastic nut that screws up and clamps the base of the antenna into a slot in the bracket; if it's not been done up tight it could undo itself I suppose, but the cable should retain it at least for a while even if it falls out of the bracket.
 
jaminb said:
Third sail of the season four weeks after replacement rigging and mast hoist. The antenna was removed and replaced prior and post lift.

I cant see any past threads of complete failure, just bird damage. Would you say incorrect installation or failed unit?

I would like to replace with the same to avoid replacing the mast bracket. It had a brass nipple on the bracket but i didn't note how the clamp worked - are they a universal fitting or specific to the manufacturer.

many thanks
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If I remember correctly, it was the bracket that broke on mine. When I eventually unstepped the mast I had to get a complete new unit as it had become unusable by then. Penfold is correct as regards the securing nut. It is designed so that the antenna can be slid into and out of the slot in the bracket without disconnecting the cable. Hopefully, that is what has happened to yours so easy to refit.
 
Thanks all. Bracket is still attached to the mast so I am assuming locking nut came loose allowing the antenna to fall off - hopefully leaving the brass nipple / end of coaxial cable undamaged still in place on the bracket. No chance of refitting as the antenna and hawk are somewhere on the sea bed in southampton water!

Having done so further research it looks like it might be the Shakespear Vitronix / Hawk, any other suggestions?

Thanks
 
jaminb said:
Having done so further research it looks like it might be the Shakespear Vitronix / Hawk, any other suggestions
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I did a lot of reading before I bought a new antenna. The hawk/shakespear are very good antennas. Been on two boats that have them and have heard transmissions and replys from a greater distance than should be possible.
I fitted a shakespear squatty body, comes with a stainless mounting bracket and have used rg214 silverplated double shielded coax as it's super low loss.
Reception is amazing over distance
 
LittleSister PM sent.

Rappey mine was terrible after the mast was put up (I didn't own the boat before I had the rigging replaced) which made me think maybe it wasn't seated properly when reinstalled.
 
jaminb said:
which made me think maybe it wasn't seated properly when reinstalled.
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That does sound like the probable cause.
The reasons I didn't buy a hawk is that I've already got a bird proof stainless wind direction indicator and I wanted an antenna that could take my choice of coax rather than the standard rg58 they all seem to come with
 
The answer to all your questions is to go up the mast and have a look. Don't spend money until you know exactly what is needed.

Even if you have enough coax at the masthead to connect to I would suggest that you resist the temptation. You will get better Tx performance with the cable that is fitted to the antenna running down the mast and plugged into the radio without any extra joints.
 
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