V Tronix Radio Aerial

After a few years of 'whipping' the whip aerial seems to have whipped itself off yesterday in the solent . So I now have 1/2 inch sticking out of the base !

While this does explain why the radio doesn't seem very good now - I clearly need to get a new one. So a question for anyone who has put a new aerial on thier boat - the 'old' one is a vtronix and having unscrewed the wire it seems to have a 'bullet' type screw in plug from the wire to the aerial. ( at the A frame end )

Is this connection common to all v- tronix aerials ?

If I buy this ;

http://www.force4.co.uk/477/Vtronix--RIB-Raider-Antenna.html

what are the odds I can just screw it on as a 2 minute job ?

Any one on here got one they want to sell me that will fit ?


Thanks

Pete

early v-tronix aeriels suffered a design flaw in constant rib use.

i've been victim of this on two boats now.

the newer aeriels (same base) have a modification in the form of a simple plastic sleeve to take some of the stress away from the lower steel element. so far this has held up on my current boat over a few thousand miles and some big sea along the way.

you can source a replacment (just the whip) from any good chandlers (this will be cheaper than the £50 link shown)

Any v-tronix whip will fit the base i beleive, including the longer yottie type of "whip" (worth knowing when you're caught out abroad, prehaps).

Thanks Daniel - but I cant get the base apart ( it clearly unscrews) to get to the whip to replace just that . Looks like I'm in for a whole new base & whip .

I can now tell that the base is full of water anyway ! I'll see how if I can seperate the base in the next few days & if needed by a new one.

Thanks

My experience on vehicle VHFs over many years is that re-using old coax is a false economy and it is usually best to bin the whole lot right the way back to the radio and start again. I did the same when I got my Rib Raider (replacing the original folding antenna that was on the boat when I bought it) and when I cut the coax open it had clearly suffered from moisture ingress at the antenna end.

It's a bit more of a pain changing the whole thing but water in the coax is probably the No. 1 cause of crap radio performance, apart from maybe snapped off antennas :)

Thanks Daniel - but I cant get the base apart ( it clearly unscrews) to get to the whip to replace just that . Looks like I'm in for a whole new base & whip .

I can now tell that the base is full of water anyway ! I'll see how if I can seperate the base in the next few days & if needed by a new one.

Thanks

I would stear clear of the Vtronix Rib Raider its about as much use as screwing a paintbrush to the end of your coax.

Mollers recenty started a thread on the subject...

http://rib.net/forum/showthread.php?t=28648

Cheers Chris- hadn't seen that thread . I'll forget that one & get a proper length effort - if it last another 4 years before it whips off its not a big deal.

Not sure I can face pulling the whole wire under the deck/ aframe/ console etc . I'll start off with just a new aerial & see how it performs - if I can get through this summer I can think about putting in on the winter 09 to do list !

Pete

Nipped in to local chandler - £30 for a direct replacement. I'll fit it tomorrow & see who can hear me !

Shows its not always cheaper to buy of the Net.......

Thanks for pointers about RIB raider model ......