Running new vhf wire

rasbury

I'm about ready to unbolt the arch on our 270 to run the vhf wire...I'm way past trying to pull the new wire with the old one. I have a snake but can't it to make the up through the 1.5" hole or so under the sink area. I tried to cut the hole bigger with my tremol but it's really think there. The only thing I can see trying is removing the nuts on the inside and see if I can pull the arch away from the hull and create more space to make the turn? Crazy! Any other ideas? There are studs going through so is have to assume there is some flex to the arch as you would have to flex it to install it?

TonyG13

@rasbury - What's wrong with your old/existing VHF cable? Why can't you just reuse it to a new antenna? You can just install new PL259 connectors, etc.

Also, not familiar with a 270 arch, but does it not have an access cover plate near the base? When I've run wires on the 310, I go up the arch from the base plate cover, and then down through the hole at the base to behind the fridge and then to the helm area.

Formulaben

rasbury said:

I'm about ready to unbolt the arch on our 270 to run the vhf wire...I'm way past trying to pull the new wire with the old one. I have a snake but can't it to make the up through the 1.5" hole or so under the sink area. I tried to cut the hole bigger with my tremol but it's really think there. The only thing I can see trying is removing the nuts on the inside and see if I can pull the arch away from the hull and create more space to make the turn? Crazy! Any other ideas? There are studs going through so is have to assume there is some flex to the arch as you would have to flex it to install it?

This is a painful subject...I too had to feed yet another wire last summer and tortured myself for hours with the same result.  What I ended up doing was just cut the TV cable and used it to pull another one through. 

The thing to remember is to also string an EXTRA wire/cable for the next cable pull and leave it there, and you won't have the same problem again...In my case, I wasn't using the TV cable at all, so it went bye-bye and will probably be replaced by Starlink one day. 

I'm jealous of what the larger boats have like Tony's...maybe a small deck plate would be appropriate?

rasbury

@TonyG13 @Formulaben thanks for the tips- the 270 has two access covers but both are in the top section of the arch so wires for this and the TV, light travel down to where the arch bolts to hull and there, there iscabout a 1 1/2" hole for them to feed through. I did use the old cable to pull the new down and it made it to the hole- that fitting is so long it would not make the turn, pulled to hard an tge okd wire separated. I did not know cutting the connector off was an option. I never seemed to have much luck with cable type connectors staying on- are there good ones that crimp? The cable goes into the antenna with no visible connections....I just put the boat back in storage....but, I was thinking I could use one of the light wires to pull it through with an extra wire to pull the light wire back and then re connect- if a p259 connector can be put back on securely then I know that would work- thanks for the tips! Thanks giving weekend we might do some cruizing- I have a handheld but on the river it did not seem to have a lot of range. I replaced my long wip with the 4' but figure sitting on the arch atop the arch it should be acceptable.
Thanks again-

rasbury

Update- you tube university show how to solder and reconnect so looks this looks to be the most reasonable way to go- I can solder no problem...thanks again. Where I store which I have to snake through tree branches I've broken two antenna, on TV antenna and bent the crap out of the rear Bimini tubing...which I still have to fix.. 

PickleRick

Are the tree branches on the main road or private road?

After damaging my spotlight I called the local DMV to complain about low hanging trees. Took about 3 months but they came it out and cut the entire road.  My boat sits about as high as your average 5th wheel. 

rasbury

@TonyG13 I ordered pl259 connector but it is a lot bigger than the one one the cable now- is this the right one? When l looked up how to install before I ordered it, the YouTube looked like the one I bought- @PickleRick my damages is where I store- I just need to take my pole saw and do some trimming- and pay better attention- I can't see what is going on that high when backing in- sort of my fault. 

TonyG13

@rasbury - Can you get a pic of the current connector and cable? The one you bought is the standard antenna connector for the back of pretty much all VHF radios. Depending on the manufacturer the dimensions may vary a bit, but it should work.

rasbury

At this point I'll give it a whirl- it matches the number you gave me'-maybe that factory one is attached in a cheaper/crimped way- it looks to me like the end result will be the same as Lomas it screws to the back of the radio which is a westmarine radio..thanks for the help- I'll try for this weekend but 40's is pretty ruff weather for a florida boy to make it out the door..

rasbury

Well it warmed up nicely and this worked without a hitch- I just can't tell if it is working...it lights up, makes the cartoon sound but not oicking up anything. The weather station works- not sure if it would pick that up with or without an antena. At the very least, I pulled all the wires through in about 1 minute- the coax was cut- would that harm the radio? Seemed like I was getting coast guard alerts before outside my house..

rasbury

Worked at the bridge so I guess case closed-