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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Antenna and Wind Indicator Wiring

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kevinmac
Admiral

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USA
732 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/13/2005 : 16:34:33

Steve recommended that while commissioning my boat in a few weeks, I also install the mast mounted VHF antenna that I plan, as well as (if I can afford it) the electronic wind direction/speed indicator. (I realize the wind indicator is decadent, but I sailed with one this summer, and loved it).

My question for you all is: what provision does Catalina make inside the mast for wiring? Is their already a "race" or whatever you call it, or do you have to put conduit in? Also, what type of exit do the wires make at the bottom of the mast, and what type of connectors have you used to get through the cabin roof?

The advice of those who have gone before, as always, would be greatly appreciated.

P.S. I am thinking of using a Raymarine ST60 Wind Indicator system. If you suggest something different, advice about that would be very helpful too, as would advice about antenna types and mountings. Thanks.

Kevin Mackenzie
Former Association Secretary and Commodore
"Dogs Allowed"
'06 C250WK #881
and
"Jasmine"
'01 Maine Cat 30 #34

Edited by - on

Jim Mc
1st Mate

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USA
43 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2005 : 19:22:07

You may want to consider the Tacktick wireless indicator. I went with it because I did not want to mess around with any more mast wiring. It is solar powered and you can move the receiver unit around the cockpit or take it in the cabin at night. I mounted the sending unit to the masthead with a small bracket and a couple of 8/32 screws. It took about 30 minutes to install on the mast with the use of a "snorkle lift" man hoist. The downside is the cost $1000 (boat show price) vs the Raymarine at about $800.

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2005 : 19:40:00

Kevin,
The 250 has conduit already in the mast for the wiring. With your boat being new, you should also find there is already a string run from one end of the conduit to the other end making the job of feeding the Coaxial through the mast for the VHF easy. Your problem will be running you Coaxial between the liner in the cabin. If you do some searching on in this forum you should find some data on this. I had better luck running mine on the starboard side.

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kevinmac
Admiral

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USA
732 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2005 : 22:19:43

Tom, I did the search, thanks. One question (at least) remains. Does the cable come out of the *bottom* of the mast? Or out the side near the bottom, but you have to take the bottom off to snake it...? Cable out the bottom seems like it would interfere with stepping the mast. There must already be some arrangement for the lights I suppose...

Tough when you don't have a boat to look at yet.

Thanks.

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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2005 : 22:45:34

The conduit does not go the full length of the mast. I drilled a 1/2 hole about six inches on both ends of the mast (inline with the conduit). I then used scribe to fish out and pull the string through the hole. Then pulled the coaxial through without removing the foot of the mast. Looking at the picture below you can see the white coaxial coming out of the mast, just above the mast light wire. One other note; order yourself a couple rubber grommets from Catalina Direct so your coaxial does not chafe when it comes through the holes you drill in the mast.

Edited by - Tom Potter on 11/13/2005 22:49:14

kevinmac
Admiral

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USA
732 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2005 : 01:05:38

Thanks Tom! Very helpful.

So did you drill *through* the conduit as well, or how did you know (without x-ray vision) how far down the conduit goes in the mast?

Also, where do the halyards run? For and aft of the conduit in the center?

Sorry if these are very dumb questions...

Edited by - kevinmac on 11/14/2005 01:07:41

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2005 : 07:21:19

I noticed that the conduit did not run the full length when I took the mast cap off at the top of the mast. I bolted my antenna mount to the mast so, I needed to get to the back side to tighten the nuts. When you take the cap off then you can see where the halyards run and how the conduit is located. Its not hard to pull the foot of the mast off as well, You will need a rivet gun and some rivets to put the foot back on.

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AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2005 : 19:43:38

A local marine electronics installer told me I could mount the VHF antenna on a stern pulpit. Anyone done that?

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Al
Captain

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USA
269 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2005 : 21:42:24

You could mount it on a stern seat, but you'd get much better range by mounting it on the masthead.

You can use the following formula to get theoretical range:

Square root of Height (in feet) above water x 1.42 = range in miles

So in the case of the (6 ft.) seat mounting: 2.45 x 1.42 = 3.48 mi.

Mounting in on the (33 ft.) masthead: 5.74 x 1.42 = 8.15 mi.

Also, avoid kinking and sharp turns in the cable, which both degrade signal. When I climbed my mast recently, I was "disappointed" to see that the dealer-installed VHF cable had an overhand knot tied in it to keep it from slipping down through the masthead...!

Edited by - on

AADIVER
Admiral

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USA
966 Posts

Response Posted - 11/22/2005 : 22:06:38

So, Al, how 'bout a hand-held for the same bucks? Has a 5 nm range; a compromise between the two mounting options.

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Al
Captain

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USA
269 Posts

Response Posted - 11/23/2005 : 12:06:58

Well, antenna height is still the single most important factor in VHF range. I would guess that the 5 mi. range they quote is under ideal, i.e., high above the water, conditions. VHF signal is line-of-sight only. No way around that.

I have a fixed mount and a handheld. We use the handheld as a backup and when we are in the dingy or the kids take off someplace in it.

West Marine has some good West Advisor links on VHF you might want to check out:

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/westadvisor/10001/-1/10001/selecvhf.htm
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/westadvisor/10001/-1/10001/howtovhf.htm
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/WestAdvisorDisplayView?storeId=10001& langId=-1& catalogId=10001& advisor=howtofixedvhf.htm

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.