VHF antenna

[Guest]

I am unstepping my mast as I need to fit a VHF antenna(combined with a windex), does anyone know of a good way of getting the wire down the mast, I've also heard that coating it with some sort of glue stops it rattling? wouldn't this effect the halyards also within the mast?

 

[Guest]

you can get it down the mast by attaching a thin line to one of the halliards and pulling that line through the mast (halliards are usually at least twice the length of the mast so you can do this without puling the halliard out of the mast)
some masts have internal tubes for wires which prevent rattling. in this case you will have to attach the thin line to one of the existing wires such as the tricloour.
dont try glue. how do you know what it will stick to? the halliards?

 

[oldharry]

Before inserting the cable fasten large ratchet type plastic cable ties about every metre along the cable run. Make sure the tails project so that they are about a third of the way round the cross section of the cable, giving a Y shape over 3 metres.

When you feed the cable up the mast, the tails will support the cable(s) clear of everything, will not foul any other internals or haliards, allows the cable to be withdrawn at any time for repair/repalcement, and will never ever rattle!

 

[LadyInBed]

What a good Idea NM

NM

 

[vyv_cox]

Kemp masts...

have a hollow in the extrusion each side of the mainsail slot to accommodate cables. No need to take cables down the inside, where they will certainly rattle.

 

[brianrunyard]

Brilliant idea

That's got to be the best idea of the month. Should qualify for an award.

 

[Guest]

Re: Kemp masts...

How do you make the "hollow" in the extrusion Vyv?

 

[vyv_cox]

Re: Kemp masts...

I don't make it, Kemp do. Not easy to explain, so I didn't make much of a job of it the first time. The section of the mast is basically something close to a circle but with a smaller, internal circle inside it with the slot at the point of coincidence. Something like a C with another c inside it. Now imagine two more, even smaller c's, one each side of the slot. They are the conduits for electric cables. It is possible to push cables into the slot but they fall out again. To overcome this, tie two or three cables together with rubber bands or tape. This holds them in. The problem when loading cables is that you still need to take the mast down to get the ends through the cap and foot fittings, but at least you don't have to thread the cable down the inside of the mast. And they never rattle.

 

[philip_stevens]

Re: Kemp masts...

Yes, my Kemp/Selden mast has a cable slot down either side of the mainsail track. When the new mast was fitted the riggers put all the cables down one slot - but tied them altogether!! So when I came to fit a new wind unit, I had to chop the associated cable and drop another down the other side - thankfully clear. At least I know I can get another cable down that slot if I ever need to.

regards,
Philip

 

[Guest]

tks everyone, some good ideas here the mast is comming down tommorow (it is a kemp) so will let you know which solution worked best