VHF Antenna Installation

[CabinBoy]

I am installing a Shakespeare VHF Marine Band Antenna on a 1800 pro-v tiller. Any suggestions on how to run the wire from the antenna to the radio? The radio and antenna are both mounted on the same side of the boat. If anyone has done this on a similar boat, I'd appreciate any suggestions. Thanks.

[CabinBoy]

Anyone?

[Xplorer]

cabinboy,

I installed a lowrance vhf on my prosport this summer. It also was installed on the same side of the boat as the radio. Due to the 8' length of the shakespeare 8225 i ended up mounting it on the gunnel next to my windshield. I put a piece of 3/8" wood backing under the base (stainless) and used stainless screws/washers and stainless nylon locknuts.

Temporarily i ran the cord around the windshield and down to the radio until i knew that it was working fine.

After making sure it was working OK, i drilled a hole just behind the base. I picked up a rubber grommet, then kind that is used on most trailers to protect the wiring when it comes out of the tongue, small black round. I drilled the hole so this grommet fit in very snugly, yet allowed the coax to be run through it down to the radio under my dash. Then simply attached the fitting and hooked it up.

One hint on the connector for the antenna to the radio. If you werent told by the place you bought it from, get a "solderless" connector. It is so much easier to install than the one shipped with the antenna (PL-259 connector from shakespeare, called a centerpin)

Hope that gives you some help.

[HARPOON-OR-BUST]

I JUST REPLACED THE VHF ANTENNA THAT WAS ON MY BOAT THIS WEEKEND WITH A DIFFERENT ONE AND I USED THE PL-259 connector from shakespeare(DIFFERENT MODEL THAT THE ONE XPLORER MENTIONS, THIS ONE DOESN'T INCLUDE THE "CENTERPIN") ,IT WASN'T A PROBLEM TO INSTALL. YOU ONLY HAVE TO SOLDER THE CENTER WIRE (MAIN CONDUCTOR) TO THE TIP TO MAKE A CONECTION. THERE ARE 2 WAYS TO INSTALL THE CONNECTOR ONE IS A FULL SOLDER CONNECTION AND FOR THE OTHER THEY GIVE YOU SPACERS TO COMPLETE THE PROCESS. REALLY ISN'T TOO BAD. JUST WANTED TO CLEAR THAT UP

[Xplorer]

Just to clarify, the wood backing piece was put under the aluminum gunnel, not on top. I wanted to eliminate as much flex as possible in the mount.

Harpoon, when i talked to Russ at Marine general he said that no soldering was necessary with the centerpin pl-259. With the centerpin design it pierces the center core and the outer sheath. Did i miss something that i was supposed to do?

OOps, just looked at the shakespeare site. The regular connector is also called a pl-259, which does need soldering.

Definitly get the "Centerpin solderless pl-259", way easier and they run about $7.

[HARPOON-OR-BUST]

NO YOU DIDN'T MISS ANYTHING I WAS JUST SAYING THAT THE ONE THAT COMES WITH THE ANTENNA IS ALSO VERY EASY TO INSTALL. I DIDN'T HAVE TO CURSE ONE TIME WHILE PUTTING IT ON THE CABLE. IT WASN'T A PROBLEM SO IN CASE YOU DON'T WANT TO BUY THE EXTRA CONECTOR, THE ONE THAT COMES WITH ISN'T A PROBLEM........

[CabinBoy]

Thanks a lot guys. Just the info I was looking for. Hopefully get it installed this weekend.