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07-13-2017, 03:50 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
City: St. Pete
Vessel Name: Becca
Vessel Model: Gulfstar 44
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 258
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My hairy antenna.
My main vhf mast is 16' tall and when raised brings my bridge clearance to 37'. So often times we have to raise and lower this hairy beast while underway.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to coat this so it doesn't give me a dose of fiberglass every time I'm near it? Using gloves helps but it still always gets me. Any recommendations on coatings that will not affect performance?
Thanks.
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07-13-2017, 03:52 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
City: Seattle
Vessel Name: Silver
Vessel Model: Helmsman 31
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 162
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Must be a European antenna
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07-13-2017, 03:57 PM
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#3
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Veteran Member
City: Ak
Vessel Name: Nadezdha
Vessel Model: 1972 Beaver 36
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 53
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Sand it smoother and paint it or gelcoat it?
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07-13-2017, 04:20 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
City: Carrollton, Va
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 458
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I've read it means the fiberglass is shot and time to buy a new one. Doing your own fiberglass job could help. If you mess up, you need a new one anyway.
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07-13-2017, 04:22 PM
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#5
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,146
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Absolutely the antenna is fine.....unless bad for a diffetent reason than hairy fiberglass.
I have sanded and painted dozens through the years.
Paint or gel coat is just a preference...but the performance should be fine if it is good now and you dont use some unusual paint.
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07-13-2017, 04:32 PM
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#6
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Moderator Emeritus
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Black Dog
Vessel Model: Formula 41PC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 21,185
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+1 on sanding and painting.
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07-13-2017, 04:37 PM
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#7
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Guru
City: Sydney
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,646
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2 minute job electrical heat shrink sleeve and a hair drier
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07-13-2017, 04:57 PM
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#8
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
Vessel Model: Was an Albin/PSN 40
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 28,146
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gaston
2 minute job electrical heat shrink sleeve and a hair drier
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Over a complete 16' antenna?
You have some really good heat shrink!
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07-13-2017, 05:01 PM
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#9
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Guru
City: Jacksonville
Vessel Name: SONAS
Vessel Model: Grand Alaskan 53
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 7,235
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dw8928
Must be a European antenna
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I see what you did there...
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07-13-2017, 05:01 PM
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#10
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Guru
City: Punta Gorda, FL
Vessel Name: Aweigh
Vessel Model: Nordic Tug 42
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 628
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Sand it and paint with white gloss Rustoleum. Will not affect the antenna properties one bit.
I have been doing this for years and have not missed a call.
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07-13-2017, 05:03 PM
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#11
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Guru
City: Annapolis
Vessel Name: Ranger
Vessel Model: 58' Sedan Bridge
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 7,088
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Is it an 8' antenna on top of an 8' extension?
If only the extension is the hairy part, sanding alone may solve it... and if not, some paint would probably smooth it out...
-Chris
__________________
Chesapeake Bay, USA
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07-13-2017, 05:14 PM
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#12
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Moderator Emeritus
City: Au Gres, MI
Vessel Name: Black Dog
Vessel Model: Formula 41PC
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 21,185
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Does heat shrink have enough UV protection to stand up to the sun every day?
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07-13-2017, 05:22 PM
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#13
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Guru
City: Windsor
Vessel Name: Keeper IV
Vessel Model: 44 Viking ACMY
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,350
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From the picture it looks like it is just your base extension. I sanded and repainted mine two years ago with white marine Polyeurothane. It looks great, with no issues.
If you're doing the actual antenna you have to watch that whatever paint you choose has no metals in it. Apparently some do and this is a problem as per the Shakespeare website.
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07-13-2017, 05:38 PM
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#14
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Technical Guru
City: Wilmington, NC
Vessel Name: Louisa
Vessel Model: Custom Built 38
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 6,194
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Wear gloves!!! I messed with one of those and those fibers afflicted me horribly.
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07-13-2017, 05:44 PM
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#15
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Guru
City: Sydney
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,646
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Comodave
Does heat shrink have enough UV protection to stand up to the sun every day?
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It was on 3 years when I sold the boat and still looked ok
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07-13-2017, 06:50 PM
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#16
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TF Site Team
City: Jacksonville
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,681
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gaston
2 minute job electrical heat shrink sleeve and a hair drier
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16' of heat shrink?
Sand and paint. We've used one part Interlux Brightsides polyurethane and a brush after their primer. We did thin a bit so the paint flowed better. The antennas still look great after 9 years.
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07-13-2017, 06:52 PM
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#17
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Guru
City: North Charleston, SC
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 4,870
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Quote:
Originally Posted by psneeld
Over a complete 16' antenna?
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Just on the part he has to touch to lower and raise the antenna. Six inches worth should do it.
My choice would probably be to replace the antenna with a new one. Sanding and painting it would work for a while.
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07-13-2017, 07:04 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
City: St. Pete
Vessel Name: Becca
Vessel Model: Gulfstar 44
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 258
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Replace with new one, not happening
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07-13-2017, 07:13 PM
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#19
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Guru
City: Quebec
Vessel Name: Bleuvet
Vessel Model: Custom Built
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 4,375
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only one solution:
L.
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07-13-2017, 07:35 PM
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#20
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Guru
City: Chicago/Montrose Harbor
Vessel Name: Sea Jay
Vessel Model: Non Trawler ;-) Ask me if it matters LOL
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 512
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The number ONE thing I remember from searching for a boat is the ONE hairy antennae I touched one day and feeling those little fibers for days afterwards. When shopping for "stuff" after I bought the boat was looking at a scotch brite pad and saying "I might need it for the god damn antennae someday"!!!
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