Remvoing VHF antenna
- Thread starter tparrent
- Start date
I assume you do not have an adjustable mount that would allow you just to lay the antenna down in a horizontal position, and that you mean to literally take the antenna off the boat? I can't tell from the pictures in your album how your antenna is attached. Whatever the case, somehow you have to deal with the electrical cable that runs from the antenna to the VHF through some part of your boat (top, side, deck?). I haven't seen an antenna you could just "unscrew" from the outside and take off. If you want to take the antenna off the boat, you're going have to unhook if from the radio. A picture, or description of your mounting, would help.
jerry97230
New member
If you just want to lay it down, you may not have to undo everything.
Maybe just unfasten the nuts inside and pull the antenna up enough to clear the bolts and lay it down.
Otherwise you will have to start from the radio and remove the coaxial cable.
Jerry C NILE
Maybe just unfasten the nuts inside and pull the antenna up enough to clear the bolts and lay it down.
Otherwise you will have to start from the radio and remove the coaxial cable.
Jerry C NILE
Caution! The coaxial cable from the radio goes up into the base and is usually soldered to the antenna itself. Trying to unscrew the antenna can break the connection (experience speaking here) 
then a new antenna is needed. As has been pointed out that coax cable must be removed from the radio and all internal attachments, loosened at the through cabin wall passage so that it can be rotated along with the antenna while unscrewing it. Removing the antenna is much more of a pain than would seem.
then a new antenna is needed. As has been pointed out that coax cable must be removed from the radio and all internal attachments, loosened at the through cabin wall passage so that it can be rotated along with the antenna while unscrewing it. Removing the antenna is much more of a pain than would seem.I can't see exactly how this is mounted to your roof, but from what I can see, it looks like a typical "sailboat style" VHF antenna that is perhaps mounted directly to the roof? If so, there may not be an easy way to lay it down, depending on how the cable/seal is done (which I can't see). Here is a photo of it:
It's been awhile since I worked with one of these, but I think the cable just comes out of the bottom, and then the antenna is secured to the inside of the boat with a ring/nut like dealie. If you unscrew that, the antenna should come loose, but then there would need to be enough cable to lay it down and plus... not sure how it is caulked/sealed. (Unless there is some provision for laying it down that can't be seen in the photo.)
If it is indeed not "lay downable," then I would consider changing antenna/mount, if it were me. Most of the ones used on boats like this have a manual lever (no tools) that allows one to lay it down, put it back up, or change the angle really easily. There are ones that fasten to a surface (i.e. roof) with four fasteners, or others that just fasten to a handrail (such as the handrail that you use to go forward that's on the roof). West Marine and others carry them. The roof handrail on my boat is 7/8". I think you would need a new antenna for this as well, but not 100% sure. I just put a new antenna on my boat this summer, so the mount options are fresh in my mind (but I didn't use a sailboat antenna, so that part is just in foggy memory).
Side note: My antenna came mounted to the side of the cabin (in the vicinity of the starboard running light), but I will probably move it to the roof at some point (but going to wait until I know better how I'm going to use the roof, since I have no holes up there and have to make a decision). It is handy to be able to reach it from the helm (or the ground next to the trailer) to raise/lower it, but it's slightly in the way when trying to move forward or aft on the starboard side deck. I did replace the antenna/cable this summer, so I had the mount off and back on again, but just put it back in the same spot for now.
Sunbeam
Edited to add: Here are a couple of photos of the antenna/mount on my boat, just to show you typical ratcheting mechanism, etc. The same type of mount can be mounted with the flat part on a horizontal surface, such as a roof. (Ignore the blue box behind it; that contained the end for the new antenna cable fitting, which is not shown in the photo.)
It's been awhile since I worked with one of these, but I think the cable just comes out of the bottom, and then the antenna is secured to the inside of the boat with a ring/nut like dealie. If you unscrew that, the antenna should come loose, but then there would need to be enough cable to lay it down and plus... not sure how it is caulked/sealed. (Unless there is some provision for laying it down that can't be seen in the photo.)
If it is indeed not "lay downable," then I would consider changing antenna/mount, if it were me. Most of the ones used on boats like this have a manual lever (no tools) that allows one to lay it down, put it back up, or change the angle really easily. There are ones that fasten to a surface (i.e. roof) with four fasteners, or others that just fasten to a handrail (such as the handrail that you use to go forward that's on the roof). West Marine and others carry them. The roof handrail on my boat is 7/8". I think you would need a new antenna for this as well, but not 100% sure. I just put a new antenna on my boat this summer, so the mount options are fresh in my mind (but I didn't use a sailboat antenna, so that part is just in foggy memory).
Side note: My antenna came mounted to the side of the cabin (in the vicinity of the starboard running light), but I will probably move it to the roof at some point (but going to wait until I know better how I'm going to use the roof, since I have no holes up there and have to make a decision). It is handy to be able to reach it from the helm (or the ground next to the trailer) to raise/lower it, but it's slightly in the way when trying to move forward or aft on the starboard side deck. I did replace the antenna/cable this summer, so I had the mount off and back on again, but just put it back in the same spot for now.
Sunbeam
Edited to add: Here are a couple of photos of the antenna/mount on my boat, just to show you typical ratcheting mechanism, etc. The same type of mount can be mounted with the flat part on a horizontal surface, such as a roof. (Ignore the blue box behind it; that contained the end for the new antenna cable fitting, which is not shown in the photo.)
AstoriaDave
New member
Tparrent,
If you can, pull the manufacturer and other info off the canister at the base of the antenna, and post back. Could be someone will recognize it. Looking at the photo, it appears the whip should unscrew, but may be frozen in place. Some penetrant similar to breakloose or WD 40 may help.
Likely a Shakespeare, and appears to be a stainless steel whip, maybe 36 inches? There may be diagrams on the Shakespeare site.
If you can, pull the manufacturer and other info off the canister at the base of the antenna, and post back. Could be someone will recognize it. Looking at the photo, it appears the whip should unscrew, but may be frozen in place. Some penetrant similar to breakloose or WD 40 may help.
Likely a Shakespeare, and appears to be a stainless steel whip, maybe 36 inches? There may be diagrams on the Shakespeare site.
If the antenna which Sunbeam shows in her photo--the Shakespheare Mariner 4200. This does have a ring nut around the PL 259 fitting on the bottom. Removing the ring hut will allow you to put the antenna on the top of the boat. If you remove the PL 259 fitting, then the entire antenna can be removed, but you should put a small piece of duct tape on the cabin top.
You can also remove the "whip" by loosening the hut on top of the loading coil. Mark where it was at the top of this collate, with a small cut with a file, so the tuning of the antenna will be the same.
You can also remove the "whip" by loosening the hut on top of the loading coil. Mark where it was at the top of this collate, with a small cut with a file, so the tuning of the antenna will be the same.
Sunbeam":x6s486vj said:
Yes, and as Bob said, you can just unscrew the "whip" part and leave the balun (fat part) there. You can put something soft(er) over the top to protect both it and the cover. I would put some dielectric grease on the threaded part/connection while you have it off.
Aha, I didn't know the thin part detached from the "can" at the bottom. Guess I never tried when it was at the top of a 40' mast 
That should mean that the cable/sealant don't even need to be messed with, and I would then be less inclined to change it to something else (presuming you don't tend to need less air draft very often).
That should mean that the cable/sealant don't even need to be messed with, and I would then be less inclined to change it to something else (presuming you don't tend to need less air draft very often).
Montana Kev
New member
I have one of these antennas like in the first photo - If it is like mine, the base can stay mounted to the boat and the wire antenna rod twist off just above the top of the base (black cap in photo). Use a pair of gripper gloves, grip the antenna at the base of the metal antenna rod and press down and twist at the same time. Mine is spring loaded and comes off for storage. I have a tennis ball cut out that goes over the base before I install the winter cover.
Kevin
Kevin
there is a good chance that Steel whip Shakespeare antenna comes apart in several places/ways. The steel whip will come out, straight up, no unscrewing, but there is a hex screw to loosen first. Before you do that, be sure to mark it where it goes down into the base part, so that when replacing it it goes back into the exact place it was. The silver, larger part of the base will probably unscrew from the mountbase with some effort, also. There is probably a ring nut that attaches to that base from inside the cabin, has to be fit over the coax because that will be soldered into the base of the antenna. The easiest way, IMHO, would be to remove the steel whip, by loosening the hex screw, and then put it back to the exact spot, come spring.
Hope that helps.
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
Hope that helps.
Harvey
SleepyC :moon