VHF question

[bastonjock]

Hi Guys

Due to the nature of my trailer sailer,all of my mast mounted electricals have to go through deck plugs,do i have to buy a special co ax type of deck plug for my VHF aerial or will a normal one do?

 

[MoodySabre]

I think that you will need a coax deck plug like this or use a deck gland through which the lead passes and use an ordinary coax joiner below decks (could be a pain taking it apart if you drop the mast often).

 

[sailorman]

mine is a block connector worked fine for the past 11 yrs

 

[johnalison]

The fewer connections in an aerial the better, and the drier the better. It's best if you can feed the aerial in to a dry connection inside the boat, or even up to the radio if possible. During the time it is disconnected, the ends need to be protected. The best results I've had have been by shoving a blob of BluTack on the wires before taping over.

 

[tillergirl]

Ah the old deck plug debate. Don't do it. Get a swan necked pipe and do all your connections inside in the dry.

I think the debate goes something like this: /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

yeah but you get your sheets caught round a swan neck
no you don't, you stand on the deck glands and break them

a swan neck is dearer than a deck gland
yes but if you're got wind gear, electrickery and an aerial, the price difference won't be much

Water will get in a swan neck
b**ll**ks

Water will get in a deck gland
Yes almost certainly /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[johnalison]

I've had water through my swan neck, so I've shoved a sponge up, which seems to have worked. It's probably the best solution, though.

 

[Sixpence]

Matt, one previous occupation I've had was electronics technician specialising on airfield communications and radar, back then we had to come up with the best means of carrying out battle damage repairs in case those nasty ruskies bombed the place, and we tested loads of different ways to join cables. For VHF we found that all available connectors affected the performance of the cable, which led to loss of signal strength. The best way we found was with a properly made join. Strip back the cable to the centre core but try and keep some of the final insulation, which you then split end to end. Carefully solder the two inners together in a straight line, don't twist it. Wrap your bit of insulation around that then add some tape to cover it. Water proof is best but if you believe any tape is waterproof you're dafter than I thought /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Then take the two braided ends and unbraid them. Put them over the join in a straight line then wrap the whole thing in aforementioned tape, and Robert is your mothers brother.
Use a flush mount deck gland close to the mast, not a connector, and do the join below deck and a fair distance from the gland, the further away the better.
Never tried a gooseneck pipe so can't comment on that way, but this is how I would do it if I needed to, which I don't as I've got the VHF close enough to where the cable comes through to just pull the lot out /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[bastonjock]

Thanks for the input guys,my problem is that i have to put it through a deck plug,id much preferr to do one continuous cable from aerial to radio but,when ever i want to move the boat on the trailer i need to be able to disconnect any wiring that comes from the mast.

Ill try an ordinary plug.

 

[Gargleblaster]

I used to race trailer sailers in Australia at one stage. We didn't use VHF but something called marine CB on the 27 Mhz band. Most of us put our aerials on the pulpit if we had one or emerging directly from the deck if we didn't and just fold them down when taking the mast down. I know this severely limits your range but you need to look at where you sail and whether you can accept a lower range.

I always take my plug off my VHF aerial now when I take my mast down so it will go straight through the deck gland and replace it after I put my mast back up. It's a solderless fitting and doesn't take long. I'm not sure it would be a real problem if I had to do it every week, just once a year I have to remember how to put it back together again.

 

[DRANNIE]

I'm waiting for tacktic to come out with a wireless one

 

[Seakindly]

Yup -I see someone's come up with a waterproof bluetooth connection to yer fragile mobile which can now be parked safely down below - so maybe soon?