VHF Aerial

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avebury

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Hi All,

I'm just entering (well nearly) the second season with my boat. When I bought her she did not have a VHF aerial, so my question is simple(ish); 1. Is it a simple job to do yourself or is it best to get the boatyard in? 2. If its the boat yard how much should I expect to pay?

Thanks

Simon
 
The ease of running the cable down inside the mast depends upon there being a mouse already run through for it. Also is the mast up or down and how good are you at working aloft if it is still rigged? Unless you are very lucky you will probably end up with at least 3 hours labour just to get the cable down the mast. You could of course fix one on the pushpit and accept a lower range........ I'm sure others will add to the debate!

Yoda
 
Hi,

I have no idea! There's nothing up there at the moment, so I assume nothing has been run. Is it going to be a pig of a job to get the cable down?

Simon
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hi,

I have no idea! There's nothing up there at the moment, so I assume nothing has been run. Is it going to be a pig of a job to get the cable down?

Simon

[/ QUOTE ]

Not even any wind gear or Nav Light cables ????
 
I am not sure if the mast is up or down.
If it is down then buy a set of cable feeder rods which were about £15 from ebay and 10m long (10 rods of 1m long) to feed the cable down the mast. My biggest problem was running the cable and plug from the mast heel to the radio inside the moulded headlining!!
 
Vacuum cleaner and light cotton thread may work. Then pull something bigger through. I have used that on ducting on our boat.

Always leave a thread in there for next time.
 
Quote, "I tend to step my mast every 2-3 years regardless, to inspect and carry out proper maintenance. I currently need to step it, as I need to fit a new direction vane to my anemometer."
Normally when people talk about stepping their mast they mean putting it up. unstepping means lowering it.
I've had good results from the mast head by lowering a thin line with a necklace chain on the end of it, and have someone fishing in at the foot with a bit of copper wire with a hook bent in the end, to pick up the chain. With copper wire, if it catches something that you don't want, you can pull it free.
 
Just done this job with the mast down (11m) using a fish wire from BnQ. Tape up the hook before inserting in case it needs to be pulled out again thus avoiding catching internals. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Hobson's choice as half aerial lead came out of the top and half from the bottom. However it did account for the poor signal at the end of the season.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I tend to step my mast every 2-3 years regardless,/quote]

For us bumpkins out here could you differentiate between stepping and unstepping please?
Difficult to advise otherwise.
 
oh goodness

I take it down, then I put it back up. Carrying out thorough maintenance might have given away my intention, but no, I forgot the pedants in PBO just love to jump for the sake of jumping.

You both knew exactly what I meant.
 
What has been said already is good advice. I have done the job a few times using a mixture of what has been quoted but a couple of other bits of information.

Different masts have certain ways of running the cable inside the mast. Older masts had polystyrene sound deadners inside and are a real B.....r to get past. Quite a few masts have a section down one side internally just for the cables.

Look hard for a mouse its often tied at the top of the mast and to a bottom cleat and is shown as whipping twine or similar. If no mouse, you could always attach a mouse to the nav lights cable , pull that through, then attach nav cable and vhf etc and use mouse to pull all through.

Choice of what way is very dependent on circumstances, mast situation etc etc
 
Good thing you didn't need to use the radio then!!
I too have tried other ways, but those rods are fantastic - it takes seconds. And used them round the house adding an extra light in the kitchen, and to help a mate fit a high level brake light where we had to run the supply wire down the door pillar of his hatchback. Best far eastern tool I have ever bought!!
 
So you have used your boat for a full season without radio. You might consider fitting a stern rail mounted antenna to be used until it is convenient to fit a mast top antenna. The stern mounted antenna becomes a standby antenna. I have a stern mounted antenna because I lower the mast a lot and find any wiring in the mast a nuisance.
PS PM me for a design of a simple home made VHF antenna. olewill
 
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