Ron,

Realize that the sail track for your mainsail, as well as spreader-mounts,
standing rigging mounts, etc, all have razor-sharp ss-screws that penetrate
the open space area inside the mast. Cables inside this space are subject to
a law that says constant degradation will result, normally as soon as the
mast is stepped.

In almost 30 years of stepping masts with radio feedline, masthead
instruments etc, only plastic conduit protecting the cable runs has ever
really helped. The taller the mast, the more difficult that is to fit inside
between the protruding ss-srew array. But is is a better long-term solution
and protects the coax from near-instant degradation from moisture
penetration.

Jack

"Ron Patterson" wrote in message
om...
I have a 34 foot sloop which I bought six years ago on Kentucky Lake
near Paducah. I motored it up river to Guntersville Lake in North
Alabama. I sailed her on Guntersville Lake on the very few days that I
had off and the wind was blowing. That however, was no more than a few
days a year. Now I am retiring in June and am going to take her down
the Tenn-Tom Waterway to her new home in Pensacola, Florida. There we
will sail and fish for the rest of our days.

When I bought the boat it had a pretty good VHF radio with the antenna
mounted at the top of the mast. It worked fine when we were bringing
the boat down to Alabama. But a few months back I tried the radio for
the first time in six years. It would not even power up. Not to worry,
I bought a new Icom VHF radio.

Before installing it I decided to check the antenna resistance from
the center of the coax to the shield. I got about two and one half
ohms. I was thinking it should be an open. What should the resistance
be, measured from the radio end, from the center conductor to the
shield? Someone please help me because I don't want to hook up the
radio and blow the transmitter. Is this a danger? Or perhaps I have
nothing to worry about.

Thanks in advance

Ron Patterson

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