fuzzy antennae

[GJD]

Is there a way to refurbish old fiberglass whip antennaes? Have a couple that are full of fuzz - those shards of glass that are just plain nasty. Is this a sanding then sealing (with something) project perhaps?

 

[eze2bme]

Look under posts that I have made. I sanded and repainted my antennaes and posted the instructions that I received from Shakespeare Antenna.

 

[Jaxfishgyd]

http://www.samsmarine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1939&highlight=antennas

 

[Passages]

Try wet sanding with 400 grit first. Maybe that will be all you need to do.

I've also heard of people using polyeurothane or varnish. Personally, I would try poly if you don't like the sanding only option.

 

[GJD]

Thanks guys - will try it!

 

[Ernie Piotrowski]

Had the same problem. Lightly sanded w/400-600 grit; 4-5 coats on polyurethan. Both Radio and loran atennas; just like new; been 3 years ago. Good luck.

 

[Hattenuff]

The only problem I see with polyurethane is that uv is going to break it down sooner than later. I just repainted one antenna mast with white 2-part epoxy paint, and that seemed to work pretty well.

 

[FrankieB]

Painted Antenna now no GPS signal

While refinishing my boat I had to remove all of the antennas. Since the antennas we starting to fuzz a little I went ahead and painted them as well using Awgrip. I have done this in the past with great success. Here is my problem. After painting all of the antennas ( I also painted the GPS antenna) so it would match, I have no GPS signal. Would using the Awgrip on the GPS antenna interfere with it receiving signal? The com antennas are working perfect. Thanks in advance for your help.
FrankieB

 

[REBrueckner]

Paint should not normally intefere with the GPS antenna ...Often they work through a roof,paint, coring,etc....
if you removed or disturbed it, maybe a connection or wire broke or is loose??.

Some older GPS antennas have a battery inside...Raytheon 120's...I found out after mine died, somebody told me "no internal battery", I bought a replacement model 125.

Took the old one apart and found a battery soldered inside!!!!

PS: Some radar antennas say "do not paint"!!!!

 

[DeeRow]

Re: Painted Antenna now no GPS signal

While refinishing my boat I had to remove all of the antennas. Since the antennas we starting to fuzz a little I went ahead and painted them as well using Awgrip. I have done this in the past with great success. Here is my problem. After painting all of the antennas ( I also painted the GPS antenna) so it would match, I have no GPS signal. Would using the Awgrip on the GPS antenna interfere with it receiving signal? The com antennas are working perfect. Thanks in advance for your help.
FrankieB

Did you move the antenna at all? loosen or rotate it? If you moved it you could have broken a wire. What kind of antenna is it? An active antenna communicates with "sentences" and has multiple wires (RS 120, RS 125) a passive antenna is connected with a coax and the GPS data is processed in the display. Care must be used to remove either type. The best way is to remove the three screws on the mount and then hold the gps antenna so that it will not move and spin the mount out of the antenna. To do this, you need some slack in the cable. Often the cable on an old antenna will crumble when moved at all.

Mark

 

[TROUBLE]

Actually, you should paint the antenna first without sanding. After the paint dries you can then sand the now stiff "fuzzies". After that a second coat will make the antenna look like new. Just did mine.

Art

 

[FrankieB]

Re: Painted Antenna now no GPS signal

Did you move the antenna at all? loosen or rotate it? If you moved it you could have broken a wire. What kind of antenna is it? An active antenna communicates with "sentences" and has multiple wires (RS 120, RS 125) a passive antenna is connected with a coax and the GPS data is processed in the display. Care must be used to remove either type. The best way is to remove the three screws on the mount and then hold the gps antenna so that it will not move and spin the mount out of the antenna. To do this, you need some slack in the cable. Often the cable on an old antenna will crumble when moved at all.

Mark

Thanks for your reply. You nailed this one! The cover on the coax (it is passive) was weathered and brittle but I had plenty of slack in the ceiling over the pilot house so I pulled the slack through and installed a new weather tight fitting where it comes through but the short piece left on the antenna was a little brittle I guess and where I had bent the coax as to make a rain loop in it I guess the lead broke. I shortened it an inch or so and reinstalled the connector and presto ... I have good signal.
Thanks for the advice.
FrankieB.

 

[yachtsmanbill]

Actually, you should paint the antenna first without sanding. After the paint dries you can then sand the now stiff "fuzzies". After that a second coat will make the antenna look like new. Just did mine.

Art

Definitely paint first, then sand, then repaint, sand, paint again, then ad an owners code... Morse "S" and "W"... ws