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Re: Swivel Ball Stopper Plugs

greatketch@...
 

Ian,

The actual balls for the ball bearings are readily available.  They are a standard part. Mine were all in good shape, and got reassembled or I would measure them.  Measure carefully, and do not assume they are metric.  Many European manufacturers of moving rigging parts use 0.25 inch ball bearings. The cir-clips are also a standard size and widely available.  The plugs... of course not so much! 

I just had my swivel rebuilt.  The first cir-clip came out without a hitch, followed by the plug.  The second clip shattered when it was being removed, and left little corroded pieces of itself behind that made removing the plug a nightmare.  The cir-clips were replaced with stainless ones that will not have this problem.  

Like so many things, this is a compromise.  A higher risk of corrosion to the swivel body, but a lower risk of corrosion to an aluminum clip that can cause loss of the clips and plugs.  I have put a good coat of Lanocoat over the clips, and added the part to my routine inspection list.  Hopefully that, along with the part's location well above the normal salt spray zone, will keep things together and running smoothly.

An interesting piece of recent technical advice from Harkin about these plastic ball bearings in other applications.  They strongly suggest NOT lubricating them with the standard dry silicone lubricants-just keep them flushed with fresh water. The rational is the silicones can make the bearing race so slick that the balls start to slide instead of roll.  Then they get a flat spot, and things go down hill from there.  This was news to me, although it has the sound of truth to it.  

I haven't decided yet if I will stop putting dry lube on parts like this.  

Bill Kinney
SM160, Harmonie
Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
Re: Swivel Ball Stopper Plugs

Ian Park
 

Ian
That is exactly what I did. But I went to a machine shop, left the swivel with them and they made a perfect stopper, shaped to the ball race and with the alignment ridge on the outside. Not sure what the plastic was - it was very hard and a perfect fit. I believe it was a plastic rod the correct diameter they started with.
I should have asked them to make a few spares but I didn’t think about it at the time.
That ridge is important if the stopper turns the swivel jams. I used a short plug at first but one bearing would catch on the edge of the hole, stop and jam it he rest. It has to be a match for the bearing groove.
Good luck.

Ian

Ocean Hobo SN96
Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Re: Bonfiglioli Main Furler Schematic

Willem Kroes
 

Thank you Alexandre!

 

Do you know where I can buy the Leroy Somer Mini Bloc reduction gear boxes?

 

Best regards,

 

Willem Kroes

 

SM#351 KAVANGA

 

Van: amelyachtowners@... <amelyachtowners@...>
Verzonden: zondag 2 december 2018 15:16
Aan: amelyachtowners@...
Onderwerp: RE: [Amel Yacht Owners] Re: Bonfiglioli Main Furler Schematic

 

 

No, the SM2K had the Leroy Somer.
Here is a comparaison:
http://www.nikimat.com/furler_transmission_leroy_somer_vs_bonfiglioli.html

Sincerely, Alexandre

--------------------------------------------

On Sun, 12/2/18, 'Willem J. Kroes' kavanga@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:

Subject: RE: [Amel Yacht Owners] Re: Bonfiglioli Main Furler Schematic
To: "amelyachtowners@..." <amelyachtowners@...>
Date: Sunday, December 2, 2018, 7:45 AM


 













Hi Robin,

 
Do you
know if these gear boxes are also applicable on Super
Maramu’s?

 
Best
regards,

 
Willem
Kroes

 
SM#351
KAVANGA
Berthed
in Cartagena, Murcia, Spain

 

 

Swivel Ball Stopper Plugs

Ian Shepherd
 

Have stripped my forestay swivel I found that both my ball stopper plugs were missing. Without these plugs the plastic balls will get a hammering as they pass the insertion hole. Amel tell me that these plugs are not available as a spare and that I should use some silicone to plug the holes. I am not happy with that solution as the balls need to have a smooth shaped surface to run over and silicone may well clog up the ball race.

My idea is to buy some 10mm nylon or wood dowelling and carefully file the plugs to the correct shape on the ball race side and to file a ridge in the other end so that it cannot twist once inserted. The ridge would sit in the slot in the carbon fibre sleeve.

I am disappointed that Amel do not sell an overhaul kit consisting of new ball bearings complete with a new sleeve and a new set of ball stopper plugs.

If anyone has another solution, please let me know.

Ian Shepherd SM2K 414 Crusader Cyprus
Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Companionway downward sliding part dimensions

Willem Kroes
 

Thanks Mark, I will cut out following these dimensions.

 

Kind regards,

 

Willem

 

SM#351 KAVANGA

 

Van: amelyachtowners@... <amelyachtowners@...>
Verzonden: zondag 2 december 2018 14:47
Aan: amelyachtowners@...
Onderwerp: RE: [Amel Yacht Owners] Companionway downward sliding part dimensions

 

 

Willem

 

28” wind by 48” tall will give you ample material.

 

 

With best regards,

 

Mark

 

Skipper

Sailing Vessel - Cream Puff - SM2K - #275

Currently cruising - Santa Marta, Colombia

www.creampuff.us

 

From: amelyachtowners@... [mailto:amelyachtowners@...]
Sent: Sunday, December 2, 2018 9:36 AM
To: amelyachtowners@...
Subject: [Amel Yacht Owners] Companionway downward sliding part dimensions

 

 

Hi Amelians,

 

I am not on my boat now and want to buy bendable teak 0.8 mm to renovate the companion way washboard because bits of the teak veneer are coming off. So I need dimensions of the washboard. Anyone on board of his SM will be so kind to e-mail me these dimensions?

 

Regards,

 

Willem Kroes

 

SM#351 KAVANGA

 

 
Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Re: Companionway ( washboard ) rubber seal replacement?

Willem Kroes
 

Thanks Mike, I will order today.

 

Kind regards,

 

Willem

 

SM#351 KAVANGA

Van: amelyachtowners@... <amelyachtowners@...>
Verzonden: zondag 2 december 2018 17:33
Aan: amelyachtowners@...
Onderwerp: RE: [Amel Yacht Owners] Re: Companionway ( washboard ) rubber seal replacement?

 

 

Willem,

Below is a copy of my order for part number 13714X2 that seems to work fine. (I am not sure if pasted graphics come through on the Bulletin Board.) Rock Auto has several profiles for what they call Belt Weatherstrip that can work if you want to explore a bit.

Mike

ALETES SM#240 St. Augustine, FL

 

 

 

From: amelyachtowners@... <amelyachtowners@...>
Sent: Sunday, December 2, 2018 8:26 AM
To: amelyachtowners@...
Subject: Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Re: Companionway ( washboard ) rubber seal replacement?

 

 

Hi Alan,

 

What was the part number of the seal you bought from Rockauto?

 

Best regards,

 

Willem Kroes

 

SM#351 KAVANGA
Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Re: Bonfiglioli Main Furler Schematic

Ian Townsend
 

Our furler is now operational. Ultimately, the primary root cause was a seized bearing, the one closest to the motor. Other components definitely needed attention as well but were not  critical. We cleaned it all, greased it up (vs. gear oil because we didn't trust the seals) and reinstalled the unit. However, I will take the good advice of the forum and stock two spare gear boxes. Thanks all for your input.

Note to older SM owners. We started diagnosing the issue by electrical troubleshooting. Unlike SM2Ks, there are no relays. Just the solenoids in the drop down panel above the dryer rack in the fwd head. 

Lastly, I was very impressed with how easy it was to drop the furler and go manual. We did this for a couple of passages. Sweet design. No struggles.


Ian & Margaret
S/V Loca Lola II 
SM153
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA

On Dec 1, 2018, at 4:34 AM, Ian parkianj@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:

 

Ian
I presume you have dropped the motor/gearbox unit and checked that the furler operates with the winch handle?
If you have also checked that the motor runs when disconnected from the gearbox, then the gearbox is the problem. If the motor does turn the gearbox then the gears have stripped. If it just jams, then the gearbox is seized. If either of these, get two new gearboxes, because the outhaul one will be in a similar condition.
I bought 2 Bonfiglios last year and replaced them both. They are a simple right angle gear drive.
Do have a look in the Amel Owners archives. There are photos of disassembly of both types of gearbox Amel used, but I believe they are not interchangeable. Alex (Nikimat) did a direct comparison of both Bonfiglio and Leroy Summers gearboxes to show the differences.
The furler gearbox is simple to change, although I did need a hydraulic press to get the drive shaft out of it. The outhaul gearbox removal was a bigger problem, and Amel Martinique removed the boom to take it to their workshop for removal.
The Bonfiglio gearbox comes filled with grease (sealed for life). Amel separated the one they fitted for me, cleaned it out and refilled it with hypoid 90 gearbox oil. There are discussion topics on grease v oil and the installation of grease nipples to renew whichever lubricant you decide on as a routine service item.

In UK I paid less than £200 for each gearbox. It seems they are readily obtainable. My suggestion would be to order two, even if you can free up the existing ones. And do follow the advice of other Amelians who have experienced the replacement process - take the Anderson line tender off the outhaul gearbox every year and regrease the shaft and woodruff key - otherwise even a sledgehammer won’t move it! (I watched Amel try!).

Good luck

Ian

Ocean Hobo SN96
Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Re: Missing furler release knob

greatketch@...
 

We are in luck... I happen to have the jib furler apart on my boat for routine maintenance.  I can photograph and measure the parts of the drive pin if anyone needs them.

One thing I can reassure people about, there is not a furling pin thief running around.  It is impossible to remove the pin without disassembling the furling drum.  It is possible for the handle to unscrew from the pin, and be lost.  The good news would be that the pin itself is still in the furling drum.

Note that this is the new style split furling drum. 

Bill Kinney
SM160, Harmonie
Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Re: Amel54 SSB installation

Paul Osterberg
 

We have a split lead antenna, that is put outside the back stay https://gamelectronicsinc.com/product/split-lead-gammckim-ssb/
Very easy to install, we have communicated with Chris Parker all the way between Hampton Virginia to Antigua and we heard him well as so did he with us
Paul on SY Kerpa SM 259
Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Re: Amel54 SSB installation

Teun BAAS
 

Hi Dean,

 

When I bought my 54 she also missed the OEM AMEL whip.

 

I asked AMEL to send a new whip and they suggested to have a backstay antenna as it would be very difficult & cost prohibitive to ship an AMEL whip to NEW CALEDONIA.

So that’s what I did – reading the suggestions on this forum I will make some modifications but will stay with the backstay antenna.

 

Best Regards Teun

 

AMELIT A54 #128

NOUMEA  NEW CALEDONIA

Dec 03, 2018   20:37:47

 

 

 

From: amelyachtowners@... <amelyachtowners@...>
Sent: Monday, December 03, 2018 8:09 AM
To: amelyachtowners@...
Subject: [Amel Yacht Owners] Re: Amel54 SSB installation

 

 

Thanks Daniel,
Interesting (and entertaining), definitely food for thought. I had not considered Joel’s third argumennt at all! For me, another point for consideration would be the cumbersome/unsightly nature of the whip (even before it degrades).

At this stage I’m still not fully convinced about which Tx antenna solution I prefer. I believe a properly sized backstay antenna (in concert with a good antenna tuner) is every bit as efficient as a whip antenna.
In the unlikely event that my rig comes down and I really need to make “that” call, my first response is more likely to be EPIRB activation followed by digging out my emergency antenna.
(Anyone know of a dismasted SM or 54?)
Long term degradation of a whip is managed easily by replacement, and the poor aesthetic is offset by the ease of installation with no requirement for a rigger.

It’s still a line ball for me right now !
Luckily I have a few more months to think about it 😜

Many thanks
Dean Gillies
SY Stella
Amel 54#154
Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Re: Amel54 SSB installation

ngtnewington Newington
 

Hi Dean, 
The little stand off spacers are on my list of “things to do”.

No leakage problems.

Nick “Amelia”


On 3 Dec 2018, at 00:20, trifin@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:

 

Hi Nick,
Great feedback! That is exactly the configuration I have in mind if I go down the backstay path.

Did you use spacers between the plastic tube holding the feed cable and the lower part of the backstay.
Also, do you have any leakage problems in the antenna feed cable?

Cheers
Dean
Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Re: Ballooner Halyard for Maramu, SN, SM and a few 54s

greatketch@...
 

Bill R,

Point 1:  New England Ropes Sta-SetX polyester line has a breaking strength of 7600 lbs in the 7/16 inch size (11mm, but as close as they get to 10).  Even using the most conservative industry value for safety factor for life-safety usage of 15X, it is more than strong enough to lift any person up the mast (that I would want to lift!). If you think that 10mm Dacron line is not suitable for going up a mast, you need to know that your standards are VERY different than the rest of the sailing world.

You suggest high tech line is "more reliable."  It is not. Many of the high tech lines have a much shorter life span in actual use because they do not like going around small sheaves and cleats. They can fail on the inside and you will NEVER know because the damage is invisible inside the sun cover which has no real strength of its own. 

I have seen this happen on a J-105 where a Spectra cored halyard failed while hoisting the sail.  There was no trace of damage looking at the cover, but the actual strength carrying core had been crushed by the cleat where the line was normally stopped off.  After that incident, I refused to allow my staff to go aloft on cored halyards.  I would MUCH prefer going aloft on a double braid polyester line where my visual inspection of the line tells me everything I need to know about its condition.

Point 2: I think you are confusing the line specs published by Amel. There are, of course, many lines on the boat that they specified as "Kevlar," and a few as Vectran. These are all lines that are stretch critical from an engineering standpoint.  What you might not realize is that ALL Kevlar lines MUST have a polyester cover because Kevlar is not stable to UV light. These lines can not be "all Kevlar."

Amel's specifications are very clear:  For lines where stretch is critical, like the halyards, the main outhaul, the traveler control lines, they are all called out as high tech line. I know they do not SAY polyester covered, but you can not use Kevlar line uncovered.  It would have a very short live span in tropical sun, and it would be WAY too slippery to work in the line tenders, or even on a standard winch at high loadings.   I know how important these low-stretch specifications are, I just bought a lot of high tech line for our boat, and for these applications they are not only worth it, but are essential to proper operation.

When Amel specifies "polyester" line, that's what they mean--not "polyester covered".  You'll see this if you look at the lines where they do specify "polyester".  They are ALL for lines where stretch can either be accepted (like the ballooner halyard) or where stretch is an important requirement (like the main sheet.)

High tech line is not "better" than polyester.  It is different.  It has a different purpose. None of our lines are loaded ANYWHERE near the point they need Spectra, Dyneema, or Vectran for breaking strength.  The only reason to use these kinds of lines on a Super Maramu is to control stretch. Thats where they should be used. In places where a bit of give is important to protect the boat (like a main sheet in a crash gybe) polyester is BETTER.  In places where stretch is unimportant, then use what makes sense from a cost and performance standpoint. That is what Amel specified, and what I use. 

It sounds like you are suggesting that ALL the lines on a Super Maramu MUST be high tech lines. That will warm the hearts of people selling such lines, and leaving everybody else poorer, to no useful purpose.

We all want to help people make the right choices.  Just like on the different kinds of Dyneema or Vectran lines for the outhaul or main traveler, details _matter_ in this. Vectran, Dyneema, and Spectra are not the same thing.  They are covered in different materials for different purposes. You have to know the reason for making choices. More dollars spent does not always get you the better outcome if spent on specifications that are irrelevant or inappropriate for the application..

Just so people understand where I am coming from, I have rigged a 40 foot boat with Dyneema standing rigging.  It was a very successful operation. It would have been a laughable failure with Dacron line--of any kind.  It is not something I would recommend for every boat, by any means. I understand where and when high tech lines are useful. These lines are not magic.  They have pluses and minuses.  No line is suitable for all purposes.

That's a very long way of saying, the ballooner halyard should be 10mm Dacron line.  It is more than strong enough. The extra stretch is irrelevant--in this application.  It is safer for going aloft because it is visually inspectable for strength, and it is a LOT less expensive.  I like New England Ropes Sta-Set X because it is really easy to splice and has a nice "hand," but a bunch of others would do as well.

That's my reasoning.  You don't have to accept it, but you asked for it.  That's pretty much everything I know about the matter. 

You should, of course, make what ever recommendation you think best based on what you know.

Bill Kinney
SM160, Harmonie
Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA


---In amelyachtowners@..., <brouse@...> wrote :

Bill Kinney,
  1. Amel trained all SM owners to use this line to go up the mast and many use it today. Yes, it may not need high strength capacity, but it's construction and reliability is very important to the safety of the owners.
  2. The outer sheath of the Amel OEM Ballooner Halyard is polyester according to Amel documents. The Amel documents do not state what the core is made of. It does not appear to be polyester. Most all of the OEM Amel running rigging lines have high strength cores including Kevlar. I can think of 6 or 8 as I write this. I am very interested as to where you found the core specs for the Amel OEM Ballooner Halyard? I will use it to update my information. If Amel specified polyester, I would be surprised and I will probably would not recommend it.
  3. I appreciate your suggestion/criticism, but actually I asked for input, corrections and clarifications because I am trying to help those that have asked for the same. Do you have anything else to offer to help me finalize this?
Best,

CW Bill Rouse
Admiral, Texas Navy
Commander Emeritus
Amel School  http://www.amelschool.com
720 Winnie St
Galveston Island, TX 77550
+1(832) 380-4970
Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Re: Amel54 SSB installation

eric freedman
 

HI dean,

I meant to say GTO15 wire and not coax.

ON ONE OF MY PREVIOUS BOATS I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THAT WIRE.

THE SEAWATER RAN DOWN THE WIRE INTO A LOCKER AND THEN UPHILL INTO THE TUNER. The tuner was toast,

My tuner on Kimberlite has all connections on the outside so that cannot happen again.

 

I do have the stock Amel whip antenna. I have had very good connections to my friend in Canada from the Med.

I would not change it.

Fair Winds

Eric

 

 

From: amelyachtowners@... [mailto:amelyachtowners@...]
Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2018 7:23 PM
To: amelyachtowners@...
Subject: [Amel Yacht Owners] Re: Amel54 SSB installation

 

 

Hi Eric,
Thanks for that point. When you say coax, may I assume you mean the antenna feed cable (which shouldn’t be coax, but may look like it from outside).
Do you have the 7m whip antenna?
Cheers
Dean
Re: Amel54 SSB installation

Dean Gillies
 

Hi Eric,
Thanks for that point. When you say coax, may I assume you mean the antenna feed cable (which shouldn’t be coax, but may look like it from outside).
Do you have the 7m whip antenna?
Cheers
Dean
Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Where does the water go?

ya_fohi
 

Porter,

Thanks. However, ther are two things a) I'm not using the aircon and b) I don't have a ball valve where you described it, only in the forward saloon sole compartment where there are three of them. Your boat seems a much later one than mine so maybe they added the valve in later models. I do see a pipe coming from under the freezer joining the main drain so I will check the aircon drip tray.

Cheers
Paul
Ya Fohi - Amel 54 #98
Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Re: Amel54 SSB installation

Dean Gillies
 

Hi Nick,
Great feedback! That is exactly the configuration I have in mind if I go down the backstay path.

Did you use spacers between the plastic tube holding the feed cable and the lower part of the backstay.
Also, do you have any leakage problems in the antenna feed cable?

Cheers
Dean
Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Re: Missing furler release knob

CW Bill Rouse
 

He has the SM 2000 (newer) style release knob.

Best,

CW Bill Rouse
Admiral, Texas Navy
Commander Emeritus
Amel School  http://www.amelschool.com
720 Winnie St
Galveston Island, TX 77550
+1(832) 380-4970



On Sun, Dec 2, 2018 at 2:13 PM greatketch@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:
 

Paul,


Do you have the "new style" furling drum (the one that splits into two parts)? or the older "one piece" style drum?  The drive pins on the two are very different.  It is possible there are even more variations than the two I know of...

Bill Kinney
SM160, Harmonie
Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA


---In amelyachtowners@..., <paul.cooper74@...> wrote :

Hello Amelians,


The furler release knob (my name for the thingey that you pull up on and rotate 1/4 turn to disengage the genoa furler motor) has mysteriously disappeared from my boat here in Le Marin (stolen??).


Anyway, Bill Rouse believes someone on the forum has fabricated some of these since they apparently are no longer available.  Does anyone out there have one to spare?


Thanks,


Paul

MARACUYA, SM238
Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Re: Ballooner Halyard for Maramu, SN, SM and a few 54s

CW Bill Rouse
 

Bill Kinney,
  1. Amel trained all SM owners to use this line to go up the mast and many use it today. Yes, it may not need high strength capacity, but it's construction and reliability is very important to the safety of the owners.
  2. The outer sheath of the Amel OEM Ballooner Halyard is polyester according to Amel documents. The Amel documents do not state what the core is made of. It does not appear to be polyester. Most all of the OEM Amel running rigging lines have high strength cores including Kevlar. I can think of 6 or 8 as I write this. I am very interested as to where you found the core specs for the Amel OEM Ballooner Halyard? I will use it to update my information. If Amel specified polyester, I would be surprised and I will probably would not recommend it.
  3. I appreciate your suggestion/criticism, but actually I asked for input, corrections and clarifications because I am trying to help those that have asked for the same. Do you have anything else to offer to help me finalize this?
Best,

CW Bill Rouse
Admiral, Texas Navy
Commander Emeritus
Amel School  http://www.amelschool.com
720 Winnie St
Galveston Island, TX 77550
+1(832) 380-4970



On Sun, Dec 2, 2018 at 2:30 PM greatketch@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:
 

Bill R,


The directions you show are for splicing a high tech dyneema or spectra core line.Is there a rational for using such an expensive line on the ballooner halyard which sees no load at all in normal use, and where stretch is not at all an issue?

Amel's specifications for this line call for 39 meters of 10mm standard polyester line.  That would cost about US$200.  Dyneema would cost almost 3 times that much for no benefit that I can see.

To be sure, other than the expense there is no downside I know of in changing from Amel's original specification on this line, and they are a LOT simpler to splice than standard double braid.  

Bill Kinney
SM160, Harmonie
Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA


---In amelyachtowners@..., wrote :

All,

The boat I was aboard in Martinique last week did not have the original ballooner halyard. See the attached photo which is something I put together from memory on my SM. I would appreciate any/all input, corrections and clarifications. It would be great to know some exact dimensions, including the size of the shackle.

Once I receive your input, I will revise and post the final version for everyone.

Best,

CW Bill Rouse
Admiral, Texas Navy
Commander Emeritus
Amel School  http://www.amelschool.com
720 Winnie St
Galveston Island, TX 77550
+1(832) 380-4970
Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Re: Amel54 SSB installation

ngtnewington Newington
 

Hi Dean, 
My 54 had a whip antenna that had broken off at deck level when I bought the boat. Since I replaced all the standing rigging anyway I included backstay isolators for the starboard mizzen backstay located above reach height from deck to which is fixed a cable that is also within a plastic tube, that connects to the tuner in the Lazarette.. There is thus zero risk of someone being burnt during SSB transmission. It is a simple, less expensive arrangement. Furthermore the antenna is 15m long between the two isolators which is the recommended length for the SSB. I prefer this arrangement to the original whip antenna.
Nick
Amelia #019 AML54

On 2 Dec 2018, at 21:09, trifin@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:

 

Thanks Daniel,
Interesting (and entertaining), definitely food for thought. I had not considered Joel’s third argumennt at all! For me, another point for consideration would be the cumbersome/unsightly nature of the whip (even before it degrades).

At this stage I’m still not fully convinced about which Tx antenna solution I prefer. I believe a properly sized backstay antenna (in concert with a good antenna tuner) is every bit as efficient as a whip antenna.
In the unlikely event that my rig comes down and I really need to make “that” call, my first response is more likely to be EPIRB activation followed by digging out my emergency antenna.
(Anyone know of a dismasted SM or 54?)
Long term degradation of a whip is managed easily by replacement, and the poor aesthetic is offset by the ease of installation with no requirement for a rigger.

It’s still a line ball for me right now !
Luckily I have a few more months to think about it 😜

Many thanks
Dean Gillies
SY Stella
Amel 54#154
Re: [Amel Yacht Owners] Re: Amel54 SSB installation

eric freedman
 

Dean,

When I had Kimberlite built. Jean Jacques was adamant about not installing a backstay antenna.

My experience with my other boats is that it is difficult to keep the water out of the coax over time.

 

My whip antenna is still not degrading, however it could use a touch up of the paint .

I don’t know if my antenna is fiberglass, upon looking at the missing spots of paint it looks like aluminum, but I am not sure.

I have had the antenna on Kimberlite for 16  years.

Fair Winds

Eric

Kimberlite Amel Super Maramu #376

 

 

From: amelyachtowners@... [mailto:amelyachtowners@...]
Sent: Sunday, December 02, 2018 4:09 PM
To: amelyachtowners@...
Subject: [Amel Yacht Owners] Re: Amel54 SSB installation

 

 

Thanks Daniel,
Interesting (and entertaining), definitely food for thought. I had not considered Joel’s third argumennt at all! For me, another point for consideration would be the cumbersome/unsightly nature of the whip (even before it degrades).

At this stage I’m still not fully convinced about which Tx antenna solution I prefer. I believe a properly sized backstay antenna (in concert with a good antenna tuner) is every bit as efficient as a whip antenna.
In the unlikely event that my rig comes down and I really need to make “that” call, my first response is more likely to be EPIRB activation followed by digging out my emergency antenna.
(Anyone know of a dismasted SM or 54?)
Long term degradation of a whip is managed easily by replacement, and the poor aesthetic is offset by the ease of installation with no requirement for a rigger.

It’s still a line ball for me right now !
Luckily I have a few more months to think about it 😜

Many thanks
Dean Gillies
SY Stella
Amel 54#154
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