Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 23-04-2019, 10:48   #1
Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Caribbean
Boat: Oyster 66
Posts: 1,332
VHF cable stuck in the mast

The boat was re-rigged and the antenna exchanged, but they forgot to clamp the cable. It dropped into its conduit and ripped the connector off in the process. It can now be seen with an endoscope 750mm down from the top. The conduit is about 32mm ID and the cable about 8mm OD.

I spent hours trying to fit a noose made from fishing line around it using a loop feeder made from a coat hangar. It works in the cockpit, but at height is hard. Plus the endoscope gets in the way and I can’t use it to help position things, so I’m working blind. It’s worse as the conduit is offset from its access hole, so little movement is available.

I can’t pull the cable out from the bottom as it goes round too many bends. It will be a while until the next mast pull.

Any ideas?
poiu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-04-2019, 10:54   #2
Registered User

Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Chesapeake Bay
Boat: Hunnter Legend 37.5
Posts: 1,012
Re: VHF cable stuck in the mast

Quote:
Originally Posted by poiu View Post
The boat was re-rigged and the antenna exchanged, but they forgot to clamp the cable. It dropped into its conduit and ripped the connector off in the process. It can now be seen with an endoscope 750mm down from the top. The conduit is about 32mm ID and the cable about 8mm OD.

I spent hours trying to fit a noose made from fishing line around it using a loop feeder made from a coat hangar. It works in the cockpit, but at height is hard. Plus the endoscope gets in the way and I can’t use it to help position things, so I’m working blind. It’s worse as the conduit is offset from its access hole, so little movement is available.

I can’t pull the cable out from the bottom as it goes round too many bends. It will be a while until the next mast pull.

Any ideas?
Does your scope have a port on it to pass stuff through it? If not, tape a wire grabber to the scope so that you can see the end and guide the grabber that way.
bensolomon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-04-2019, 11:05   #3
Registered User
 
S/V Illusion's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Lakewood Ranch, FLORIDA
Boat: Alden 50, Sarasota, Florida
Posts: 3,464
Re: VHF cable stuck in the mast

If all it took to remove the connector was the weight of the coax, you are lucky in that it was a bad connection to begin with.
I’m assuming you can’t push the cable up front m the bottom?
S/V Illusion is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-04-2019, 12:27   #4
Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Caribbean
Boat: Oyster 66
Posts: 1,332
Re: VHF cable stuck in the mast

Quote:
Originally Posted by S/V Illusion View Post
If all it took to remove the connector was the weight of the coax, you are lucky in that it was a bad connection to begin with.
I’m assuming you can’t push the cable up front m the bottom?
It’s a 25m mast. The cable weight is substantial. Fat heavy coax and I can’t push it up. It’s no surprise to me the connector broke off.
poiu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-04-2019, 12:33   #5
Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Caribbean
Boat: Oyster 66
Posts: 1,332
Re: VHF cable stuck in the mast

Quote:
Originally Posted by bensolomon View Post
Does your scope have a port on it to pass stuff through it? If not, tape a wire grabber to the scope so that you can see the end and guide the grabber that way.
I can’t pass stuff through. I don’t know what a wire grabber is. I’ll Google it. The antenna cable is 10mm dia, so will need to be the right size.
poiu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-04-2019, 13:15   #6
Registered User

Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: France/UK
Boat: Gib'Sea 402
Posts: 546
Re: VHF cable stuck in the mast

Quote:
The boat was re-rigged and the antenna exchanged, but they forgot to clamp the cable.
Who are "they"? Do they have any responsibility for your predicament? Maybe they should be providing you with the tools to grab the cable and pull it up.
hoolie is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 23-04-2019, 13:29   #7
Registered User
 
Reefmagnet's Avatar

Join Date: May 2008
Location: puɐןsuǝǝnb 'ʎɐʞɔɐɯ
Boat: Nantucket Island 33
Posts: 4,864
Re: VHF cable stuck in the mast

If the cable's stiff enough, I'd try a fibreglass tent pole with a suitable wood screw epoxied to it. Insert the pole down the conduit and screw it into the cable. Withdraw the pole and cable in one smooth action, maybe with a bit of soapy water thrown in for lubrication.


Well that's the theory, anyway!
Reefmagnet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-04-2019, 14:05   #8
Registered User

Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: France/UK
Boat: Gib'Sea 402
Posts: 546
Re: VHF cable stuck in the mast

I think he'd have more luck with a gyro-magnetic sky hook.
How on earth is he going to screw in an epoxied wood screw into a cable inside the mast?

OK, I was in Mackay a couple of months ago and I realise it's another world ... ...
hoolie is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 23-04-2019, 14:23   #9
Registered User

Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Florida Gulf Coast
Boat: center console
Posts: 227
Re: VHF cable stuck in the mast

Use an electricians steel fish tape ($12-15 at HD or Lowes) and make the end into a V shaped hook with pliers. Tape to the end of the scope or just play out enough to grab below the end.
1affiah is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-04-2019, 14:40   #10
Registered User
 
Reefmagnet's Avatar

Join Date: May 2008
Location: puɐןsuǝǝnb 'ʎɐʞɔɐɯ
Boat: Nantucket Island 33
Posts: 4,864
Re: VHF cable stuck in the mast

Quote:
Originally Posted by hoolie View Post
I think he'd have more luck with a gyro-magnetic sky hook.
How on earth is he going to screw in an epoxied wood screw into a cable inside the mast?

OK, I was in Mackay a couple of months ago and I realise it's another world ... ...
Well, it's most likely wedged because it hasn't fallen further. And it's 10mm diameter. And it's stiff. And the dielectric insulation should a screw quite well. And the tent pole acts as both a guide and a handle to screw it in with. Note by tent pole I'm referring to two man tent style, not circus marquee style.

Worth a shot if a snare won't fit around it.

PS. Mackay didn't offer enough choice of soy milk latte's for your pallete or are we just a bunch of redneck in your opinion?
Reefmagnet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-04-2019, 16:23   #11
Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Caribbean
Boat: Oyster 66
Posts: 1,332
Re: VHF cable stuck in the mast

Quote:
Originally Posted by hoolie View Post
Who are "they"? Do they have any responsibility for your predicament? Maybe they should be providing you with the tools to grab the cable and pull it up.
My problem is of split responsibility. I used a maintenance guy to fit the new antenna and a rigger to install the mast. No one is owning up to liability. They are both equally responsible in my view, but I am left holding the baby. I should ask the rigger for tools. The installer lent the endoscope.
poiu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-04-2019, 16:25   #12
Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Caribbean
Boat: Oyster 66
Posts: 1,332
Re: VHF cable stuck in the mast

Quote:
Originally Posted by Reefmagnet View Post
If the cable's stiff enough, I'd try a fibreglass tent pole with a suitable wood screw epoxied to it. Insert the pole down the conduit and screw it into the cable. Withdraw the pole and cable in one smooth action, maybe with a bit of soapy water thrown in for lubrication.


Well that's the theory, anyway!
Maybe. I’ll check the picture I took. I think it’s a solid insulator, so that will be really hard to do.
poiu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-04-2019, 16:29   #13
Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Caribbean
Boat: Oyster 66
Posts: 1,332
Re: VHF cable stuck in the mast

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1affiah View Post
Use an electricians steel fish tape ($12-15 at HD or Lowes) and make the end into a V shaped hook with pliers. Tape to the end of the scope or just play out enough to grab below the end.
I’ve got a nylon fish tape. It’s no use as far as I can see. Too waggly. How is a steel one better?
poiu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-04-2019, 16:33   #14
Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Caribbean
Boat: Oyster 66
Posts: 1,332
Re: VHF cable stuck in the mast

Quote:
Originally Posted by bensolomon View Post
Does your scope have a port on it to pass stuff through it? If not, tape a wire grabber to the scope so that you can see the end and guide the grabber that way.
Is this what you meant? I found other types that didn’t look of potential. This might work so long as the grip is strong. It’s a hard plastic coating on the cable.

https://www.amazon.com/X-Long-Flex-C.../dp/B0793JWN3H
poiu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23-04-2019, 16:52   #15
Registered User
 
transmitterdan's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2011
Boat: Valiant 42
Posts: 6,008
Re: VHF cable stuck in the mast

Quote:
Originally Posted by poiu View Post
Is this what you meant? I found other types that didn’t look of potential. This might work so long as the grip is strong. It’s a hard plastic coating on the cable.



https://www.amazon.com/X-Long-Flex-C.../dp/B0793JWN3H
I’m sorry to hear about the problem you have.

I have one of these “grabbers” and it probably won’t lift a long coax cable.

If you can attach a keyless chuck like some electric drills use to a long rod that might work. Open the jaws just enough and push them over the cable end. Turn the shaft to clamp the jaws onto the cable. You would need to practice on the ground to work out the technique. Some keyless chucks can grip really hard.

But you are fighting a really difficult problem. The cable will be slippery and may be jammed. You may need to pull the mast. That will relieves a lot of the force required to pull the cable back up.

When you get the cable back use a Chinese finger puzzle cable gripper to avoid the problem in the future. There should never be any weight placed on a coax connector. They aren’t designed to hold any weight.
transmitterdan is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
mast, vhf

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
More than one Cable in a Cable Clam? sully75 Electrical: Batteries, Generators & Solar 19 17-11-2022 04:42
Steering cable power steering mercruiser - locking nut stuck ? mghunter Construction, Maintenance & Refit 6 29-12-2016 06:03
Pull VHF cable through mast roetter Marine Electronics 8 21-11-2014 14:06
Would you like to help me replace my mast VHF cable? velero Deck hardware: Rigging, Sails & Hoisting 0 02-10-2012 12:37
For Sale: 50' Telephone/Cable TV Combo Cable off-the-grid Classifieds Archive 5 27-10-2009 12:00

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:03.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.