VHF mast top antenna mounted upside down

[FairweatherDave]

Wandering around the boat yard today past various masts lying down on stands. Noticed a couple of masts with their antennae deliberately mounted upside down. My initia reaction was they must be like that just while they are down, to avoid accidental damage, and they will be remounted normal way up come time to step the mast. But then I thought maybe they were that way to avoid whirly wind instruments, and they are permanently upside down. But wouldn't the mast create a reception blind spot?

 

[Mark-1]

Wandering around the boat yard today past various masts lying down on stands. Noticed a couple of masts with their antennae deliberately mounted upside down. My initia reaction was they must be like that just while they are down, to avoid accidental damage, and they will be remounted normal way up come time to step the mast. But then I thought maybe they were that way to avoid whirly wind instruments, and they are permanently upside down. But wouldn't the mast create a reception blind spot?

My mast is on a rack right now and I've turned it upside down as you describe to keep it out of the way.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

It might create a reception blind spot but the wary do it over winter to avoid folk damaging the aerial with boots or tyres.

Didnt bother myself but as my new aerial does not actual work as per PBO post, it might have been ill judged

 

[FairweatherDave]

Well my mast will be coming down sometime over the winter and it does look a pretty sensible thing to do while stored. I haven't had a (funtioning) mast mounted antenna for a while, just one of Salty John's finest mounted on the pulpit with a very long cable coiled and ready to install properly. If I can sort the wind instrument at the same time that'll be a bonus.

 

[Greemble]

I also reverse the aerial when storing my mast, just top keep it out of the way.

Leaving it upside down when the mast is back on seems an odd idea, though. Too likely to be in the way of the sails.

 

[Daverw]

It would really effect the transmission power and SWR being close to the mast

 

[alan_d]

Common to do this when the mast is off (if the aerial is not going to be taken away) to reduce its vulnerability to being struck and damaged.

 

[ProDave]

Yes I turned mine upside down to prevent it being a "poke your eye out" hazard when the mast is down.

If you forget to put it the right way up before raising the mast, I bet water would enter via the upturned cable exit which would not be good.

 

[Moodysailor]

Same here, used to turn it around when the mast was down to stop anyone walking into it and snapping it off (had one "die" that way)

 

[MikeCC]

I took my antenna/windex off completely, then broke the windex arrow getting it out of the car ... so much for that plan.

 

[Daydream believer]

I fix a batten to the mast & tape the aerial to that. I also fix the windex & wind instrument to it as well.
Then at the base of the mast I stuff a piece of 1.5 inch square batten up inside the mast 2 ft, so it projects 3 feet & then strap the forestay foil to it. It is amazing how may people just let their foil drop over a stool to kink . Some get quite badly damaged.

 

[Bilgediver]

My mast bracket has a slotted hole so yes everytime the mast comes down the antenna is reversed in the mount to reduce the chance of damage and also prefent tripping passers by.

 

[claymore]

Standard practice in most boatyards isn't it?