Skinny co-ax connector

[JumbleDuck]

I'm in the process of preparing the mast for lowering, for the first time since I have owned the boat. There are three cables up the mast. One (lights) has a waterproof in line plug and socket above deck. One (B&G masthead unit) has a junction box below deck. The VHF antenna cable, however, seems to be continuous from masthead to VHF. Getting it out would be a major pain in the ... neck, so I am thinking of cutting t and rejoining later. Space is limited, though.

What is the narrowest sort of good co-ax joiner. Doesn't have to be plug and socket - I'm quite happy with a singe unit which takes two wires from opposite ends. The cable is 6mm in diameter.

 

[earlybird]

A BNC connector is quite slim, and good for co-ax.

 

[crewman]

I know someone who uses a "chocolate box" type connector well wrapped up in waterproof tape. He says it works well.

 

[James_Calvert]

I had a connector in my vhf coax.

It was unreliable. So was its replacement. So next time I needed a new aerial I ran the coax all the way through to the set.

It takes a while to get it out, and the plug into the set has to be dismantled and remade each time.

But I haven't ever had to set up my emergency aerial since.

 

[TernVI]

A high quality BNC would be OK, needs to fit the cable and be assembled correctly though.
It's crucial that it's waterproof, corrosion is very lossy.
There are literally dozens of co-ax connector styles which would do the job.

 

[PaulRainbow]

I'm in the process of preparing the mast for lowering, for the first time since I have owned the boat. There are three cables up the mast. One (lights) has a waterproof in line plug and socket above deck. One (B&G masthead unit) has a junction box below deck. The VHF antenna cable, however, seems to be continuous from masthead to VHF. Getting it out would be a major pain in the ... neck, so I am thinking of cutting t and rejoining later. Space is limited, though.

What is the narrowest sort of good co-ax joiner. Doesn't have to be plug and socket - I'm quite happy with a singe unit which takes two wires from opposite ends. The cable is 6mm in diameter.

If there is enough space you could use a PL259 and SO239, further mast removals would mean un-soldering the PL29.

You could use BNC connectors.

You can cut and solder the cable, but it's a bit fiddly as you need to rebuild the structure. This does work well though.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Thanks very much, everyone.

I have since done some more investigation and found a BNC connector in the (dry!) bilge, so the immediate problem has been solved. I may re-jig things though, and split a new cable at a deck socket, such as I had on my old boat, and which allows a spare antenna to be plugged in and hauled up the mast if the masthead one gets damaged.

 

[JumbleDuck]

If there is enough space you could use a PL259 and SO239, further mast removals would mean un-soldering the PL29.

You could use BNC connectors.

You can cut and solder the cable, but it's a bit fiddly as you need to rebuild the structure. This does work well though.

Thanks, Paul. I think I can come up with something better than the current setup.

 

[neilf39]

Google vhf through deck connector. I used the vtronix one. I make sure it is sealed with self amalgamating tape and have had no problems.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Google vhf through deck connector. I used the vtronix one. I make sure it is sealed with self amalgamating tape and have had no problems.

It was Vtronix one I had before and it worked pretty well, though as I recall I had to replace the plug part after ten years or so. Probably not sealed well enough.

One reason for doing this is that we may want to do the Forth and Clyde Canal sometime and for that - and in general - a set up which requires the removal of substantial interior woodwork to remove the mast is a bit sub-optimal.

 

[john0740]

Also consider FME connectors. Not much larger in diameter than the co-ax cable.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Also consider FME connectors. Not much larger in diameter than the co-ax cable.

Many thanks.

 

[jdc]

What I did was cut the cable. Then when the mast was back up I joined the ends (cutting an inch or so off each end) with one of these: PL-258-CP-G Connector - Shakespeare Marine Antennas

I figured that I'd use one every decade or so, hence the 30cm or so of slack I have below decks will, if I'm still still alive, last me into the record books.

 

[JumbleDuck]

What I did was cut the cable. Then when the mast was back up I joined the ends (cutting an inch or so off each end) with one of these: PL-258-CP-G Connector - Shakespeare Marine Antennas

I figured that I'd use one every decade or so, hence the 30cm or so of slack I have below decks will, if I'm still still alive, last me into the record books.

Thanks. That's just the sort of thing I was after.

 

[Graham376]

These deck fittings work well as they allow a below deck bnc to be pulled through with cable - Waterproof Fittings Thru-Dex® Series - DC Power Onboard

 

[JumbleDuck]

These deck fittings work well as they allow a below deck bnc to be pulled through with cable - Waterproof Fittings Thru-Dex® Series - DC Power Onboard

And thanks for that too.

I'm going to take the opportunity to make wiring to the mast a lot simpler and more convenient to disconnect, so all these tips are much appreciated. Thinking of an active radar reflector and deck light too.

 

[wully1]

I cut , trim, solder and insulate. Plugs are unreliable IMHO.

(Ex radio and radar fixer so no probs for me, if your not sure then don’t try this at home kiddies...)