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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 250 Specific Forum

Through Deck VHF Coaxial

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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/07/2004 : 21:29:17

I was planning to install a mast mount antenna and run the coaxial down the mast conduit. My problem is I trailer the boat and want to be able to step the mast, in order to do this I will have to be able to separate the coaxial near the mast base. How do you guy and gals deal with the coaxial connection? I've looked for a through deck connection plug but no luck.

1997 250 TR WK (sold)
1984 O'Day 28 (sold)
1979 SISU 22
Bath, NC.

Edited by - on

Keith D.
Navigator

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USA
233 Posts

Response Posted - 12/07/2004 : 23:58:58

I used a coax cable deck fitting found in the west marine catalog page 83. I noticed there is a cap listed for a PL-259 deck feed through on the same page so if you go to west marine you may be able to get the feed though which goes with that cap even though it is not listed in the catalog. That would be a little cleaner.I found the Through-deck fitting for the PL-259 cap in the Boat U.S. Catalog item number 308116. Below deck access can be gotten by removing one of the lights by the compression post. You may want to put it through on the flatter part of the deck because it is solid wood on the raised section and the fitting may not be long enough.

Edited by - Keith D. on 12/08/2004 19:10:33

sterngucker
Navigator

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USA
169 Posts

Response Posted - 12/08/2004 : 04:02:11

I found this while browsing at [url="https://www.catalinadirect.com/store/storehome.cfm"]Catalina Direct[/url]. Look under Catalina 25, Electrical. Seems like it might be a good idea as it keeps the connection inside, the connector actually passes through. Don't know if it would leak as it ages or not.

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Wayne Wallace
1st Mate

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USA
28 Posts

Response Posted - 12/08/2004 : 10:47:09

Both work well but the one used by Keith is actually designed to mount as a thru deck and is not as easy to use on the 250 (limited access from below). While it is not in the WM catalog it is shown in the Boats US catalog and can be ordered if not in stock at your local store.
The CableClam can be found on the WM catalog page 83 and allows for easy installation as the connector feeds through and can be accessed much better and is not exposed to the elements. It is a two piece fitting....the bottom one is designed to be permanently fixed to the deck and the top part that fits around the coax is mounted to the base via machine screws and is easy to remove. However the potential risk is you do not want to slide this up and down on the coax as it will shorten the life of the rubber gasket and in time leak.
I guess part of the decision might be how often you have to take the mast down.
The problem I had was getting from there to the VHF radio that is mounted near the companionway. I could not fish thru the cabin roof at all and ended up having to run the RG 8 coax exposed part of the way.

Wayne Wallace
ZMAJESTIC

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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 12/08/2004 : 17:08:10

I flush mounted the VHF on the head wall near the companionway so I could have easy access to it from the cockpit area. I was able to run the coax from the mast area by removing the spot light on the starboard side and run the coax between the liner in front of the port, then ran it under the teak strip back to the galley then down through the bilge to the head. For some reason I could not get the coax to run on the port side. There were no problems running it on the starboard side, go figure.

Anyway the main concern now is the through deck. I called Shakespeare today and they suggested that I use the PL-258-L Barrel Connector. They told me it was completely water proof and would not have any problems with the extra connections. However its the outside of the connector where it meets the deck that I'm worried about. I guess with proper preparation and good caulk it will be okay, just like any other through hull fitting. I'm still open to ideas before I cut that hole.

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Capt. Kurt
Navigator

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185 Posts

Response Posted - 12/08/2004 : 18:54:56

I bought a VHF radio (Raymarine RAY54 DSC) with a built in antenna but haven't hooked it up yet. I wanted to avoid having to deal with the external antenna, but it does have an external coax jack for future use. Is the range going to be acceptable using the built in antenna for lake and coastal sailing?

Thanks,
Kurt

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Wayne Wallace
1st Mate

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USA
28 Posts

Response Posted - 12/09/2004 : 11:55:35

Kurt
I am not familiar with the VHF you bought but I would not expect the range to be any greater than a typical handheld VHF. On a sail boat the best range is acheived by use of a mast head 3dB antenna. While other factors influence the range the higher the antenna the further the range and the 3db is designed to cover a greater area when a sailboat is heeled. A mast head antenna should deliver any where from two -three times the range of a handheld VHF.

Wayne Wallace
ZMAJESTIC

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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.