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Ted Osborne
Joined: 29 Dec 2004
Posts: 109
City/Region: Des Moines, WA
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 1999
C-Dory Model: 24 Tomcat
Vessel Name: Tabbycat
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 Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 12:19 pm Post subject: Waxing Antennas |
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Reading the Jan/Feb edition of dockside magazine, in the Hands On section the author mentions that regular cleaning and waxing will extend the antennas life. I had always known antennas were fibreglass but for some reason never considered waxing it. Just wanted to pass on this easy maintenance tip.
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Ted & Donna |
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Matt Gurnsey
Dealer
Joined: 11 Nov 2008
Posts: 1532
City/Region: Port Orchard
State or Province: WA
Photos: Kitsap Marina
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| Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 12:23 pm Post subject: |
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I had never thought of it- but it makes perfect sense.
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Papillon
Joined: 31 Mar 2005
Posts: 949
City/Region: DeBary, Fl. *On the St. John's River*
State or Province: FL
C-Dory Year: 1993
C-Dory Model: 22 Angler
Vessel Name: Papillon
Photos: Papillon
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| Posted: Fri Jan 22, 2010 8:10 pm Post subject: |
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Also don't forget your mooring whips...if you have them...wax them. The will last longer before they start making it painful to handle them. After years of exposure to the UV rays, the fiberglass will become exposed and you will be felling the adverse effects of it in your hands when you are handling them.
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Mike Taylor
330-936-1030
1993 Angler-02' 115 Suzuki 4 Stroke |
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Sea Wolf
Joined: 01 Nov 2003
Posts: 8650
City/Region: Redding
State or Province: CA
C-Dory Year: 1987
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Sea Wolf
Photos: Sea Wolf
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| Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2010 8:25 am Post subject: |
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| Papillon wrote: | | Also don't forget your mooring whips...if you have them...wax them. The will last longer before they start making it painful to handle them. After years of exposure to the UV rays, the fiberglass will become exposed and you will be felling the adverse effects of it in your hands when you are handling them. |
Very true! Handling (SPECIFICALLY SLIDING YOUR HAND DOWN THE ANTENNA OR MOORING WHIP FROM THE NARROW TO THE BROADER END) will result in the microscopic glass fibers being painfully embedded in your fingers!
Once the antenna or mooring whip gets frayed however, not all is lost. I can think of at least three alternatives:
1. paint the antenna with a flexible paint such as a linear polyurethane.
2. Spiral wrap the antenna with plastic tape (using gloves, of course!).
3. Slide heat shrink tubing over the antenna and shrink it down to fit. This may take a combination of two or even three sizes of tubing to accommodate the taper of the fiberglass shaft.
We discussed this a year or two ago, and I remember Capn Jack trying #3 and saying it worked very well. Here's that full discussion:
Fiberglass Antenna Slivers Many excellent ideas that elaborate on this problem and its solution contained therein!
Joe.  
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"Most of my money I spent on boats and women. The rest I squandered'. " -Annonymous |
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localboy
Joined: 30 Sep 2006
Posts: 4673
City/Region: Lake Stevens via Honolulu
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2007
C-Dory Model: 25 Cruiser
Vessel Name: 'Au Kai (Ocean Traveler)
Photos: 'AU KAI
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| Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2010 10:36 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | Slide heat shrink tubing over the antenna and shrink it down to fit. This may take a combination of two or even three sizes of tubing to accommodate the taper of the fiberglass shaft. |
What a great, simple idea!
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hardee
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 12637
City/Region: Sequim
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Sleepy-C
Photos: SleepyC
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| Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2010 11:00 am Post subject: How long does the heat shrink tubing last? |
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How long does the heat shrink tubing last when exposed to the same elements as the FG antenna?
One thing that I do to help protect the antenna when trailering is to slide a 3 foot section of foam pipe insulation over it. Does 2 things: When the 8ft FG whip is folded down towards the stern, (parallel) with the cabin roof, it would bang on the aft cabin top, wearing on the antenna, and top. Now, there is a 1" foam thickness there. The other 2 1/2 ft stick out past the top end of the antenna, and prevent anyone in the cockpit from walking into the end and poking out an eye. A simple line, slip knot and tie to the boarding handle keeps the foam in place at 60 knots down the hiway. Works for me.
Harvey
SleepyC
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Sea Wolf
Joined: 01 Nov 2003
Posts: 8650
City/Region: Redding
State or Province: CA
C-Dory Year: 1987
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Sea Wolf
Photos: Sea Wolf
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| Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2010 1:05 pm Post subject: Re: How long does the heat shrink tubing last? |
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| hardee wrote: | How long does the heat shrink tubing last when exposed to the same elements as the FG antenna?
One thing that I do to help protect the antenna when trailering is to slide a 3 foot section of foam pipe insulation over it. Does 2 things: When the 8ft FG whip is folded down towards the stern, (parallel) with the cabin roof, it would bang on the aft cabin top, wearing on the antenna, and top. Now, there is a 1" foam thickness there. The other 2 1/2 ft stick out past the top end of the antenna, and prevent anyone in the cockpit from walking into the end and poking out an eye. A simple line, slip knot and tie to the boarding handle keeps the foam in place at 60 knots down the hiway. Works for me.
Harvey
SleepyC |
Harvey_ as far as how long it lasts, I guess we'll have to ask Capn Jack, or someone who's done it (!).
My two basic antennas are mounted forward on the hooded brow overhang so they 1.) don't have mounting holes that go through the roof into the cabin, and 2.) fold down and lay between the rooftop handrails and the raised cabin top where they're out of the way and ride quietly. Mounted further forward, like this, the cockpit overhand is reduced to about 15 inches.
The only disadvantage to the rooftop mount, as you've discovered, is that the antennas extend back over the cockpit when folded down, creating a hazard, which is especially worrisome since it's at eye level.
I deal with this by installing plastic antenna balls obtained for free at gas stations. They're light enough to just leave on the antennas permanently, whether up or down. I first tried tennis balls, but their weight and windage was too great when aloft. Keep 'em flying if ya' got 'em !
Joe.  |
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hardee
Joined: 30 Oct 2006
Posts: 12637
City/Region: Sequim
State or Province: WA
C-Dory Year: 2005
C-Dory Model: 22 Cruiser
Vessel Name: Sleepy-C
Photos: SleepyC
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| Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2010 4:11 pm Post subject: hope that Capn Jack will chime in |
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Thanks for tip Joe, Guess we will have to hope that Capn Jack will chime in here on that:
| Quote: | | "How long does the heat shrink tubing last when exposed to the same elements as the FG antenna?" |
As to the little "free " antenna balls from ????? I thought the only place that did that anymore is Jack in the Box fast food. (It's OK, its just a memory thing   )
Harvey
SleepyC  |
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