"Flying Pig" wrote in message
...

The web site makes it look like the goop/tape I have aboard, not (the
also-aboard) self-amalgamating (think tommy tape or rescue tape) stuff
which sticks only to itself and doesn't mold at all - but also comes off
without any residue, if you just slit it with a knife. Not particularly
waterproof unless you stretch the bejesus out of it and overlap a great
deal, and even then, I'm not sure SAT would be waterproof. I'm fairly
sure the gooptape I have would be. When I undid the mast-top connection,
I had to sorta rub it off, as it didn't come in one piece, at all, and
clean out the knurls... Makes sort of an ugly boot when you squeeze it.
Should work fine, but not SAT...


I would stay away from the butyl based tapes. Besides the adherence issues
there is also an outgassing problem which could create gas voids under the
tape and collect moisture. It is desirable to have it adhere to the
connector even though there may be some difficulty in removing it. When it
sticks to the connector there is a lot less chance of voids and water
pockets. Also if you don't connect the antenna ground to the mast (or any
other ground) up top you will get less corrosion, less noise in your
receive signal and the PIM (passive intermodulation distortion) in your
transmit signal will be kept down. Also consider using silver plated PL-259
connectors.
http://www.hamcq.com/coax-cable-coax.../prod_138.html
You can also change out your SO-239 connectors on the radio and antenna for
silver plate ones. http://www.universal-radio.com/CATAL...ts/plconn.html
.. If you want to go all out use high power N (Navy) connectors, silver
plated. They don't cost that much more and were developed by the Navy for
shipboard use. They have internal gasketing:
http://www.rfcafe.com/references/ele...nector-dwg.htm just to
keep the weather out.