I want to mount a VHF antenna atop my carbon fiber mast. But standard
installation involves
first mounting the antenna to a bracket, then forming a drip loop, then running
the cable
through a hole in the side of the mast, an inch or so below the top, with a
rubber grommet to
seal it off. But my understanding is that you can’t simply drill a hole in a
carbon fiber mast,
unless it’s through a spot which as been thickened, just for that purpose. In
other words, an
attachment point which was created at the factory. So how to I install the
antenna?
Also, I noticed an abrasion on the mast, about a foot long. The scrape has
exposed the
‘fibers’, but no deeper. Is this simply awlgrip? And if so, can I simply repaint
it?
There’s no need to drill. On Entropy, the 39 we used to own, the
radar mount was bonded to the mast. On our current boat we have a
masthead VHF antenna and I’m adding a second VHF for the cockpit that
will use a rail mounted antenna. I’ve always found it a pain to use a
radio mounted in the nav station when I’m in the cockpit. Typically I
use my handheld instead. With a regular VHF mounted underneath the
dodger I’ll probably only use the one in the nav station while we’re
anchored.
I want to mount a VHF antenna atop my carbon fiber mast. But
standard installation involves
first mounting the antenna to a bracket, then forming a drip loop,
then running the cable
through a hole in the side of the mast, an inch or so below the
top, with a rubber grommet to
seal it off. But my understanding is that you can’t simply drill a
hole in a carbon fiber mast,
unless it’s through a spot which as been thickened, just for that
purpose. In other words, an
attachment point which was created at the factory. So how to I
install the antenna?
Also, I noticed an abrasion on the mast, about a foot long. The
scrape has exposed the
‘fibers’, but no deeper. Is this simply awlgrip? And if so, can I
simply repaint it?
There’s no need to drill. On Entropy, the 39 we used to own, the
radar mount was bonded to the mast. On our current boat we have a
masthead VHF antenna and I’m adding a second VHF for the cockpit that
will use a rail mounted antenna. I’ve always found it a pain to use a
radio mounted in the nav station when I’m in the cockpit. Typically I
use my handheld instead. With a regular VHF mounted underneath the
dodger I’ll probably only use the one in the nav station while we’re
anchored.
But how did you run the cables? They have to enter the mast at some point.
I want to mount a VHF antenna atop my carbon fiber mast. But
standard installation involves
first mounting the antenna to a bracket, then forming a drip loop,
then running the cable
through a hole in the side of the mast, an inch or so below the
top, with a rubber grommet to
seal it off. But my understanding is that you can’t simply drill a
hole in a carbon fiber mast,
unless it’s through a spot which as been thickened, just for that
purpose. In other words, an
attachment point which was created at the factory. So how to I
install the antenna?
Also, I noticed an abrasion on the mast, about a foot long. The
scrape has exposed the
‘fibers’, but no deeper. Is this simply awlgrip? And if so, can I
simply repaint it?
Posted by andre laviolette (andrelaviolette@…>)
FGLJFF, A small hole for wire and screws above the stressed area of mast is ok. If mast is off the boat attach long wire ties in star pattern every couple of feet has been discussed in this forum. The scrape, if deep enough, fill with Marine Tex and then paint. Unless you are concerned with extreme range while heeled over you could install a rail mount power boat 8 foot 6DB whip antenna on the stern. No problem with the extra wire in mast fouling with halyards. Works well for me ! In some instances, I have had better range than mast head neigbours ? Andre. " Scaramanga " F25.fgljff <fgljff@…> wrote: I want to mount a VHF antenna atop my carbon fiber mast. But standard installation involves first mounting the antenna to a bracket, then forming a drip loop, then running the cable through a hole in the side of the mast, an inch or so below the top, with a rubber grommet to seal it off. But my understanding is that you can’t simply drill a hole in a carbon fiber mast, unless it’s through a spot which as been thickened, just for that purpose. In other words, an attachment point which was created at the factory. So how to I install the antenna? Also, I noticed an abrasion on the mast, about a foot long. The scrape has exposed the ‘fibers’, but no deeper. Is this simply awlgrip? And
if so, can I simply repaint it?
Now you can have a huge leap forward in email: get the new Yahoo! Mail.
As we talk about unstayed masts in the freedom board the maximum
stresses are induced by the bending forces at deck level. These
bending forces are about zero atop the mast. There we only find
compression forces caused by the halyards.
I would be very cautious to drill a carbon spar in the lower regions
but a relative small hole for a cable at the top should not cause any
problems. My F33/35 cat ketch had massive aluminum fittings for the
halyard sheaves bonded to the mast tops. So it would be best to drill
through these and you have no more sleepless nights.
I want to mount a VHF antenna atop my carbon fiber mast. But
standard installation involves
first mounting the antenna to a bracket, then forming a drip loop,
then running the cable
through a hole in the side of the mast, an inch or so below the top,
with a rubber grommet to
seal it off. But my understanding is that you can’t simply drill a
hole in a carbon fiber mast,
unless it’s through a spot which as been thickened, just for that
purpose. In other words, an
attachment point which was created at the factory. So how to I
install the antenna?
Also, I noticed an abrasion on the mast, about a foot long. The
scrape has exposed the
‘fibers’, but no deeper. Is this simply awlgrip? And if so, can I
simply repaint it?
As we talk about unstayed masts in the freedom board the maximum
stresses are induced by the bending forces at deck level. These
bending forces are about zero atop the mast. There we only find
compression forces caused by the halyards.
I would be very cautious to drill a carbon spar in the lower regions
but a relative small hole for a cable at the top should not cause any
problems. My F33/35 cat ketch had massive aluminum fittings for the
halyard sheaves bonded to the mast tops. So it would be best to drill
through these and you have no more sleepless nights.
Peter
Thanks to all. I’ll give it a whirl. I already have masthead light wires in
there, so I can use
them to fish the vhf cable, with a messenger line. I’m also going to get some
Marine tex,
and some awlgrip, make the repair and repaint the whole mast.
— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “fgljff” <fgljff@> wrote:
I want to mount a VHF antenna atop my carbon fiber mast. But
standard installation involves
first mounting the antenna to a bracket, then forming a drip loop,
then running the cable
through a hole in the side of the mast, an inch or so below the top,
with a rubber grommet to
seal it off. But my understanding is that you can’t simply drill a
hole in a carbon fiber mast,
unless it’s through a spot which as been thickened, just for that
purpose. In other words, an
attachment point which was created at the factory. So how to I
install the antenna?
Also, I noticed an abrasion on the mast, about a foot long. The
scrape has exposed the
‘fibers’, but no deeper. Is this simply awlgrip? And if so, can I
simply repaint it?
I want to mount a VHF antenna atop my carbon fiber mast. But
standard installation involves
first mounting the antenna to a bracket, then forming a drip
loop,
then running the cable
through a hole in the side of the mast, an inch or so below the
top, with a rubber grommet to
seal it off. But my understanding is that you can’t simply
drill a
hole in a carbon fiber mast,
unless it’s through a spot which as been thickened, just for
that
purpose. In other words, an
attachment point which was created at the factory. So how to I
install the antenna?
Also, I noticed an abrasion on the mast, about a foot long. The
scrape has exposed the
‘fibers’, but no deeper. Is this simply awlgrip? And if so, can
I
simply repaint it?