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23-04-2019, 10:48
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Caribbean
Boat: Oyster 66
Posts: 1,332
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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?
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23-04-2019, 10:54
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Chesapeake Bay
Boat: Hunnter Legend 37.5
Posts: 1,012
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Re: VHF cable stuck in the mast
Quote:
Originally Posted by poiu
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?
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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.
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23-04-2019, 11:05
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Lakewood Ranch, FLORIDA
Boat: Alden 50, Sarasota, Florida
Posts: 3,464
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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?
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23-04-2019, 12:27
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Caribbean
Boat: Oyster 66
Posts: 1,332
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Re: VHF cable stuck in the mast
Quote:
Originally Posted by S/V Illusion
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?
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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.
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23-04-2019, 12:33
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Caribbean
Boat: Oyster 66
Posts: 1,332
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Re: VHF cable stuck in the mast
Quote:
Originally Posted by bensolomon
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.
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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.
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23-04-2019, 13:15
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: France/UK
Boat: Gib'Sea 402
Posts: 546
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Re: VHF cable stuck in the mast
Quote:
The boat was re-rigged and the antenna exchanged, but they forgot to clamp the cable.
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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.
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23-04-2019, 13:29
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2008
Location: puɐןsuǝǝnb 'ʎɐʞɔɐɯ
Boat: Nantucket Island 33
Posts: 4,864
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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!
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23-04-2019, 14:05
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: France/UK
Boat: Gib'Sea 402
Posts: 546
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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 ... ...
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23-04-2019, 14:23
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Florida Gulf Coast
Boat: center console
Posts: 227
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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.
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23-04-2019, 14:40
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2008
Location: puɐןsuǝǝnb 'ʎɐʞɔɐɯ
Boat: Nantucket Island 33
Posts: 4,864
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Re: VHF cable stuck in the mast
Quote:
Originally Posted by hoolie
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 ... ...
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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?
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23-04-2019, 16:23
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Caribbean
Boat: Oyster 66
Posts: 1,332
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Re: VHF cable stuck in the mast
Quote:
Originally Posted by hoolie
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.
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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.
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23-04-2019, 16:25
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Caribbean
Boat: Oyster 66
Posts: 1,332
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Re: VHF cable stuck in the mast
Quote:
Originally Posted by Reefmagnet
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!
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Maybe. I’ll check the picture I took. I think it’s a solid insulator, so that will be really hard to do.
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23-04-2019, 16:29
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Caribbean
Boat: Oyster 66
Posts: 1,332
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Re: VHF cable stuck in the mast
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1affiah
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.
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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?
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23-04-2019, 16:33
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Caribbean
Boat: Oyster 66
Posts: 1,332
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Re: VHF cable stuck in the mast
Quote:
Originally Posted by bensolomon
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.
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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
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23-04-2019, 16:52
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2011
Boat: Valiant 42
Posts: 6,008
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Re: VHF cable stuck in the mast
Quote:
Originally Posted by poiu
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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.
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