New VHF Through-Deck Installation Suggestions??

[Bill Goldsmith]

I have removed a mast base deck coax fitting for my masthead VHF antenna, and found it to be corroded and leaking. I have excavated to dry balsa and filled the remaining void with epoxy. Now I need to find a replacement fitting. However I cannot locate an exact replacement deck fitting. It had a flange base with a female coax connector. The mast VHF wire had a male fitting that plugged into the deck connector. No one seems to have the identical deck connector. I have also considered just using a through-deck wire receptacle and using a pair of in-line coax plugs, but I can only find a Male plug!! I would be very interested in other CD owners' comments on how their masthead antennas are wired at the mast basee and any suggestions for taking this opportunity to do a superior installation.

Thanks

Bill Goldsmith
CD27 Second Chance



goldy@bestweb.net

[Catherine Monaghan]

Bill, how about two new fittings -- one for the deck fitting and one for the cable? That way you know they'll match up.


catherine_monaghan@merck.com
CD32 <a href="http://www.hometown.aol.com/bcomet/real ... ization</a>, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay

I have removed a mast base deck coax fitting for my masthead VHF antenna, and found it to be corroded and leaking. I have excavated to dry balsa and filled the remaining void with epoxy. Now I need to find a replacement fitting. However I cannot locate an exact replacement deck fitting. It had a flange base with a female coax connector. The mast VHF wire had a male fitting that plugged into the deck connector. No one seems to have the identical deck connector. I have also considered just using a through-deck wire receptacle and using a pair of in-line coax plugs, but I can only find a Male plug!! I would be very interested in other CD owners' comments on how their masthead antennas are wired at the mast basee and any suggestions for taking this opportunity to do a superior installation.

Thanks

Bill Goldsmith
CD27 Second Chance

catherine_monaghan@merck.com

[John R.]

I have removed a mast base deck coax fitting for my masthead VHF antenna, and found it to be corroded and leaking. I have excavated to dry balsa and filled the remaining void with epoxy. Now I need to find a replacement fitting. However I cannot locate an exact replacement deck fitting. It had a flange base with a female coax connector. The mast VHF wire had a male fitting that plugged into the deck connector. No one seems to have the identical deck connector. I have also considered just using a through-deck wire receptacle and using a pair of in-line coax plugs, but I can only find a Male plug!! I would be very interested in other CD owners' comments on how their masthead antennas are wired at the mast basee and any suggestions for taking this opportunity to do a superior installation.

Thanks

Bill Goldsmith
CD27 Second Chance

I use Dri-Plugs for all these types of deck connections. J. Stewart Haft Co. used to be the distributor for the plugs but I think they were taken over by Simpson Lawrence. At any rate, I believe Newmar has picked up the distribution of Dri-Plug connectors. I used these connectors for all my mast wiring on our CD30. I currently have six of them mounted aft of the base of the mast to handle all the mast circuits and VHF. They make one that is a coax version for a VHF coax cable. It is RG58 cable compatible.

I just went out to my garage and dug out a spare one that I have and it is still in the original Newmar packaging. The label calls it "DRI-COAX", Dri-Coax RG58 (BD-600). P/N 008-0059-0

This extra one I've got I picked up from a clearance bin at Boat U.S. awhile back so I would have a spare on hand. You might check with Boat U.S. or their catalog and see if they still stock them. I'm sure West or Defender or someone will have them.

These are superb plugs. I've never had a problem with the six I have and they have been on the deck since 1990. They are beautifully made with o-ring seals etc.,. They are made of glass reinforced nylon like the marelon products made by Forespar. These plugs are not cheap but they last and don't let you down. I think they are around $40. They are watertight and will do a great job for what you are looking for. Makes everything neat,shipshape, weather proof and dependable. By using one of these plugs you will make a superb installation and it will look that way also.

[Bill Goldsmith]

Catherine--That's exactly what I cannot find. I went to Worst Marine near my office in NYC and all they had were MALE fittings. The sales help was clueless. And their catalog does not appear to provide a complete set of new fittings for a mast base installation either. BOAT/US catalog is the same. I am wondering if I am missing something.

Bill

Bill, how about two new fittings -- one for the deck fitting and one for the cable? That way you know they'll match up.


catherine_monaghan@merck.com
CD32 <a href="http://www.hometown.aol.com/bcomet/real ... ization</a>, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay

I have removed a mast base deck coax fitting for my masthead VHF antenna, and found it to be corroded and leaking. I have excavated to dry balsa and filled the remaining void with epoxy. Now I need to find a replacement fitting. However I cannot locate an exact replacement deck fitting. It had a flange base with a female coax connector. The mast VHF wire had a male fitting that plugged into the deck connector. No one seems to have the identical deck connector. I have also considered just using a through-deck wire receptacle and using a pair of in-line coax plugs, but I can only find a Male plug!! I would be very interested in other CD owners' comments on how their masthead antennas are wired at the mast basee and any suggestions for taking this opportunity to do a superior installation.

Thanks

Bill Goldsmith
CD27 Second Chance

goldy@bestweb.net

[Bill Goldsmith]

Thanks John.

I searched Dri-Plug on the net and found Newmar. Called and was advised they dropped the line about 2 yrs ago. No more spare parts available. West, BOAT/US and Defender do not carry. I will continue my search. Maybe a small marine electronics place keeps a stock. Otherwise, it appears I may have to order from England.

I did manage to find a direct replacement for my corroded deck fitting at Defenders. It is item # 252220 (Female deck conector). But before simply reinstalling the prior setup with new parts I would like to exhaust the possibility of getting better quality/easier/corrosion proof fittings.

Thanks.

Bill Goldsmith

I have removed a mast base deck coax fitting for my masthead VHF antenna, and found it to be corroded and leaking. I have excavated to dry balsa and filled the remaining void with epoxy. Now I need to find a replacement fitting. However I cannot locate an exact replacement deck fitting. It had a flange base with a female coax connector. The mast VHF wire had a male fitting that plugged into the deck connector. No one seems to have the identical deck connector. I have also considered just using a through-deck wire receptacle and using a pair of in-line coax plugs, but I can only find a Male plug!! I would be very interested in other CD owners' comments on how their masthead antennas are wired at the mast basee and any suggestions for taking this opportunity to do a superior installation.

Thanks

Bill Goldsmith
CD27 Second Chance

I use Dri-Plugs for all these types of deck connections. J. Stewart Haft Co. used to be the distributor for the plugs but I think they were taken over by Simpson Lawrence. At any rate, I believe Newmar has picked up the distribution of Dri-Plug connectors. I used these connectors for all my mast wiring on our CD30. I currently have six of them mounted aft of the base of the mast to handle all the mast circuits and VHF. They make one that is a coax version for a VHF coax cable. It is RG58 cable compatible.

I just went out to my garage and dug out a spare one that I have and it is still in the original Newmar packaging. The label calls it "DRI-COAX", Dri-Coax RG58 (BD-600). P/N 008-0059-0

This extra one I've got I picked up from a clearance bin at Boat U.S. awhile back so I would have a spare on hand. You might check with Boat U.S. or their catalog and see if they still stock them. I'm sure West or Defender or someone will have them.

These are superb plugs. I've never had a problem with the six I have and they have been on the deck since 1990. They are beautifully made with o-ring seals etc.,. They are made of glass reinforced nylon like the marelon products made by Forespar. These plugs are not cheap but they last and don't let you down. I think they are around $40. They are watertight and will do a great job for what you are looking for. Makes everything neat,shipshape, weather proof and dependable. By using one of these plugs you will make a superb installation and it will look that way also.

goldy@bestweb.net

[John R.]

Thanks John.

I searched Dri-Plug on the net and found Newmar. Called and was advised they dropped the line about 2 yrs ago. No more spare parts available. West, BOAT/US and Defender do not carry. I will continue my search. Maybe a small marine electronics place keeps a stock. Otherwise, it appears I may have to order from England.

I did manage to find a direct replacement for my corroded deck fitting at Defenders. It is item # 252220 (Female deck conector). But before simply reinstalling the prior setup with new parts I would like to exhaust the possibility of getting better quality/easier/corrosion proof fittings.

Thanks.

Bill Goldsmith

I have removed a mast base deck coax fitting for my masthead VHF antenna, and found it to be corroded and leaking. I have excavated to dry balsa and filled the remaining void with epoxy. Now I need to find a replacement fitting. However I cannot locate an exact replacement deck fitting. It had a flange base with a female coax connector. The mast VHF wire had a male fitting that plugged into the deck connector. No one seems to have the identical deck connector. I have also considered just using a through-deck wire receptacle and using a pair of in-line coax plugs, but I can only find a Male plug!! I would be very interested in other CD owners' comments on how their masthead antennas are wired at the mast basee and any suggestions for taking this opportunity to do a superior installation.

Thanks

Bill Goldsmith
CD27 Second Chance

I use Dri-Plugs for all these types of deck connections. J. Stewart Haft Co. used to be the distributor for the plugs but I think they were taken over by Simpson Lawrence. At any rate, I believe Newmar has picked up the distribution of Dri-Plug connectors. I used these connectors for all my mast wiring on our CD30. I currently have six of them mounted aft of the base of the mast to handle all the mast circuits and VHF. They make one that is a coax version for a VHF coax cable. It is RG58 cable compatible.

I just went out to my garage and dug out a spare one that I have and it is still in the original Newmar packaging. The label calls it "DRI-COAX", Dri-Coax RG58 (BD-600). P/N 008-0059-0

This extra one I've got I picked up from a clearance bin at Boat U.S. awhile back so I would have a spare on hand. You might check with Boat U.S. or their catalog and see if they still stock them. I'm sure West or Defender or someone will have them.

These are superb plugs. I've never had a problem with the six I have and they have been on the deck since 1990. They are beautifully made with o-ring seals etc.,. They are made of glass reinforced nylon like the marelon products made by Forespar. These plugs are not cheap but they last and don't let you down. I think they are around $40. They are watertight and will do a great job for what you are looking for. Makes everything neat,shipshape, weather proof and dependable. By using one of these plugs you will make a superb installation and it will look that way also.

Bill,

I was at Boat U.S. today and they still have a brand new one left in their clearance item bins. It is marked down to $5 from $47. A good deal I'd say. I already have a spare so I'll list their phone number of the store below. I would think their special order department can find out who the current distributor is if you press them. Same for Newmar.....they know who to contact they are just being lazy, give 'em a push.

Ft. Myers Florida Boat U.S. - PH: 941/481-7447 ask them to check the clearance bins for the Newmar Dri Coax plug assembly. Ask for Don if you get the run around he'll be of help.

Post an update if you determine who the new distributor is. I'll keep checking around also.

[Ron Musk]

I have removed a mast base deck coax fitting for my masthead VHF antenna, and found it to be corroded and leaking. I have excavated to dry balsa and filled the remaining void with epoxy. Now I need to find a replacement fitting. However I cannot locate an exact replacement deck fitting. It had a flange base with a female coax connector. The mast VHF wire had a male fitting that plugged into the deck connector. No one seems to have the identical deck connector. I have also considered just using a through-deck wire receptacle and using a pair of in-line coax plugs, but I can only find a Male plug!! I would be very interested in other CD owners' comments on how their masthead antennas are wired at the mast basee and any suggestions for taking this opportunity to do a superior installation.

Thanks

Bill Goldsmith
CD27 Second Chance

I use Dri-Plugs for all these types of deck connections. J. Stewart Haft Co. used to be the distributor for the plugs but I think they were taken over by Simpson Lawrence. At any rate, I believe Newmar has picked up the distribution of Dri-Plug connectors. I used these connectors for all my mast wiring on our CD30. I currently have six of them mounted aft of the base of the mast to handle all the mast circuits and VHF. They make one that is a coax version for a VHF coax cable. It is RG58 cable compatible.

I just went out to my garage and dug out a spare one that I have and it is still in the original Newmar packaging. The label calls it "DRI-COAX", Dri-Coax RG58 (BD-600). P/N 008-0059-0

This extra one I've got I picked up from a clearance bin at Boat U.S. awhile back so I would have a spare on hand. You might check with Boat U.S. or their catalog and see if they still stock them. I'm sure West or Defender or someone will have them.

These are superb plugs. I've never had a problem with the six I have and they have been on the deck since 1990. They are beautifully made with o-ring seals etc.,. They are made of glass reinforced nylon like the marelon products made by Forespar. These plugs are not cheap but they last and don't let you down. I think they are around $40. They are watertight and will do a great job for what you are looking for. Makes everything neat,shipshape, weather proof and dependable. By using one of these plugs you will make a superb installation and it will look that way also.

Gentlemen,
I was in Boats US in Fairhaven,Ma. a couple of weeks ago and they had a pretty good selection of those fittings---- but they were full retail.In any event they seem to be well engineered and constructed and the best solution I've yet to see.
Ron Musk



ccerre@massed.net

[Mark Yashinsky]

FYI, Bill G was also looking into Clamshell Vents, which allow a connector to pass thru, then clamp down on the cable, so the connector is below, safe and dry. Anyone every try them. One that was seen was made by Seafit. Any experience w/ these???