VHF Antenna Preferences

[Doc Carter]

Gaack!  I just received the TRAM 1600-HC 38-Inch mast-top  antenna for my VHF radio, and the (gonna get technical here) white thingie at the base of the wire whip is MUCH bigger than I expected.  This thing is gonna look monstrous on top of the mast.

Anyone have any suggestions for a more subtle implementation?

Thanks!

[brackish]

I have the same one.  Think they are all about the same size.  Once it gets up there, you will not notice it.  I modified my Windex to use the antenna as the pivot shaft.  Had to add a pad to the back of the antenna mounting bracket for the reference tabs.  Clears the clutter a little.

[newt]

Wow Brach, why don't you just put a little crow's nest up there too....

[Doc Carter]

Holy crap, Brack!  That is tight! 

Okay.. there's my solution. 

Thanks!

[brackish]

Used a nylon spacer so that the windex vane would clear the masthead light, then another spacer on top then a piece of heat shrink tube to lock it all in place.  Had to cut the shaft for the reference tabs off to get it below the vane.  It all works very well.  Two of the screws that hold the mast head casting onto the mast extrusion happen to line up with the bracket (at least on mine) and I drilled and tapped the lower hole for the bracket in the mast extrusion.

[curtisv]

Doc,

It took me a while to find a photo of my masthead and its an old one.



This sets the masthead fly aft where it is a bit more visible.  The cheepo light that Davis charges way too much for broke.  I replaced it with a red LED boat trailer light.  Waterproof, red (good for night) and LED.  The anchor light is on a SS plate bolted to the masthead and set off to one side.  The wire comes out the middle of the light assemby so this works.  The VHF is on a angle thingie that you can buy with the antenna for next to nothing.  There is plenty of shrink tubing sealing the connector and cable at the mast head end of the VHF cable.

The masthead fly light is hooked up to the NAV light circuit so its on when the NAV lights go on.  I also have a small red LED in the cockpit and one small LED in the cabin hooked up to the NAV lights.

I expect that in a few years the VHF cable will be corroded enough (the copper inside) that I might want to replace it.  I bought the cable local and its not tinned copper, just copper.  Otherwise its been fine for 7 or 8 years (except the masthead fly light).  I should mention that I have gone through two masthead flys and need to buy a third.  Best to remove the whole thing for trailering as soon as the mast comes down.  That way it is also off when you move the mast and when you store the mast over the winter (no falling tree branch damage).  If I did that I might be still using the first one I bought.

Hope this helps.

Curtis