VHF antenna cable

[rehurst]

How would one replace the VHF antenna/cable on a 2012 R-29. Is there a wire race or channel that the wire runs through. Is it secured so that it can not be used to pull a new wire down?

 

[Kevin Lamont]

How would one replace the VHF antenna/cable on a 2012 R-29. Is there a wire race or channel that the wire runs through. Is it secured so that it can not be used to pull a new wire down?

Hello,

You dont have to replace the whole wire run, you can splice on the outside right before it enters the boat so you dont need to reseal the wire. I have attached a link to the splice we have used before for this repair:

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/shakespe ... ecordNum=5

Hope this helps.

Thank you,
Kevin Lamont

 

[Thorolson]

Just curious why you would like to replace the cable.

 

[fishheadbarandgrill]

Just curious why you would like to replace the cable.

I'm not the original poster but this what I was thinking when I purchased my used 2011 R29...My antenna cable is hardwired to the antenna. If I had to replace my antenna, I would need to either splice into the existing cable or run a new cable. Another option is to splice in a connector so that you could completely remove the VHF antenna (good for trailering). I was pondering this scenario since my antenna is badly weathered and I wasn't comfortable painting the antenna because I couldn't verify the paint I would use was free of metals. So I wrapped the antenna in white electrical tape instead.

 

[rehurst]

My AIS is intermittent and I am concerned that it is the antenna or wire that is faulty - have discussed with several electronic people. The wire sort of kinks as it enters the top and am not sure the antenna is of the best quality.

 

[Trisailor]

I recently replaced the vhf antenna on my 2011 R27. The antenna was okay, my problem was the cable that was kinked between the antenna and cabin top. I chose to replace the antenna and cable as the easiest solution. The cable entered the cabin and snaked down the column over the sink with the rest of the wiring coming down from the top. Granted the fridge had to be removed to snake the cable to the compartment behind the helm and put a new connector on the cable.
The difficult part was getting the cable through the cabin top and finding it in the wire race without removing all the trim and monkey fur. I should have hired one of the junior sailors around the club with smaller more flexible arms for that part.