Taking the mast down, what should I add to the top?

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ash2020

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Morning all. We're unstepping the mast on our Varne 27 in order to replace the rigging. As it's going to cost nearly £400 in future, we don't intend to do it again in a hurry. While it's down, what would you add to the top? Currently there's no tricolour light so I'm doing that, also maybe a steaming light at the spreaders. Is it worth maybe putting an AIS aerial up (currently on the rail)? What about an anemometer? Useful?
I'm going to replace all the cables while we're at it.
 
A VHF aerial; if for no other reason than to deter birds.

Also a Windex.

That's all I have, apart from a NASA tricolour light that doesn't work.
 
ash2020 said:
Morning all. We're unstepping the mast on our Varne 27 in order to replace the rigging. As it's going to cost nearly £400 in future, we don't intend to do it again in a hurry. While it's down, what would you add to the top? Currently there's no tricolour light so I'm doing that, also maybe a steaming light at the spreaders. Is it worth maybe putting an AIS aerial up (currently on the rail)? What about an anemometer? Useful?
I'm going to replace all the cables while we're at it.
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Leave the AIS antenna where it is, arrange the cable so that it can reach the VHF to act as an emergency antenna.
 
ash2020 said:
Morning all. We're unstepping the mast on our Varne 27 in order to replace the rigging. As it's going to cost nearly £400 in future, we don't intend to do it again in a hurry. While it's down, what would you add to the top? Currently there's no tricolour light so I'm doing that, also maybe a steaming light at the spreaders. Is it worth maybe putting an AIS aerial up (currently on the rail)? What about an anemometer? Useful?
I'm going to replace all the cables while we're at it.
Click to expand...
Whatever you add make sure either the forward or aft end of the cap is kept clear so that if the mast is lifted with a long strop, it doesn't take out whatever you have just fitted.
 
ash2020 said:
Would I not get a much better range with a mast mounted aerial. I need to replace it BTW, totally rusty!
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An AIS antenna on the pushpit is all you need. It is the ships that are within a mile or two that you need to worry about. 50 miles away (I get that from my antenna at 15 metres) well they could do all sorts of things before they slice you in two.

Having a emergency antenna on the rail for the VHF will give you some coverage that would be useful in an rescue, e.g. lifeboat or helicopter at 5nm.
 
ash2020 said:
Would I not get a much better range with a mast mounted aerial. I need to replace it BTW, totally rusty!
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I am not an expert, but had thought that the advice was not to have two VHF aerials next to each other at the masthead. Better to either keep them separated as currently, or use a splitter and a single masthead aerial for both.
 
dunedin said:
I am not an expert, but had thought that the advice was not to have two VHF aerials next to each other at the masthead. Better to either keep them separated as currently, or use a splitter and a single masthead aerial for both.
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Hmm, interesting. When I first fitted the AIS I used a splitter but it really didn't work very well.
 
It all depends on how much you want to over complicate a 27-foot boat and the sort of sailing you do.

VHF, Windex, and a tricolor only if you sail offshore at night (inshore and in harbors and rivers, rail lights are probably more visible to nearby boats). Anemometers and wind indicator are only worth the trouble if you are fitting an autopilot that talks to them.. which you do not need.

Needs vs. wants. My PDQ has a bunch of stuff up there. My Corsair F-24 just VHF and Windex, and I wouldn't want more weight or windage.
 
ash2020 said:
Morning all. We're unstepping the mast on our Varne 27 in order to replace the rigging. As it's going to cost nearly £400 in future, we don't intend to do it again in a hurry. While it's down, what would you add to the top? Currently there's no tricolour light so I'm doing that, also maybe a steaming light at the spreaders. Is it worth maybe putting an AIS aerial up (currently on the rail)? What about an anemometer? Useful?
I'm going to replace all the cables while we're at it.
Click to expand...
AS I struggled today to run temporary connections to watch the rugby, I regreted taking the tv antenna off ?.

It worked out ok perched on the top of a boathook.
 
Rubber snake ? keeps the birds off. No realy it does on the spreaders too, had them for years, I was going to put a strobe light but figured it would look like a cardinal. So looking at a Amber beacon now , french fishing boat , everyone avoids them ???
 
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