Cabelas Rail Ratchet VHF Antenna Mount doesn't fit 170 railing

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  Cabelas Rail Ratchet VHF Antenna Mount doesn't fit 170 railing

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Author Topic:   Cabelas Rail Ratchet VHF Antenna Mount doesn't fit 170 railing

whaler1234 posted 04-07-2005 05:29 PM ET (US)
FYI, I purchased the Rail Ratchet VHF Antenna Mount (Item: IF-010535) from Cabelas hoping this was the Shakespeare model. It looks exactly like the Shakespeare Style 4190 Rail Antenna Mount, but not sure if it is. It comes in a plain white box with no markings or paperwork from Shakespeare. Anyways, the specs say it fits 7/8" railings, but when trying to mount to my center console grab rail, it is too large. I could probably make a vinyl gasket of some sort, but don't want to bother if this is not the correct size.
WT posted 04-07-2005 06:46 PM ET (US)
You might try cutting a piece of PVC pipe (sprinkler pipe) and then cutting it in half again. The two pieces will protect your rail from scratches and act as a washer.
Chuck Tribolet posted 04-07-2005 08:15 PM ET (US)
The real Shake had the same problem on my '97ish Montauk. I
tried lots of things off and for about five years. What
finally fixed it was a metal shim. I used a piece of metal
repair shingle (the brown metal you shove under the roof
shingles as a band-aid till it quits raining and you get a
new roof). Dunno what's it's made of, but a magnet sticks
to it, so it ain't SS. I'm amazed that in a couple of years
it hasn't rusted away, but there's ZERO rust. I looked for
SS sheet but it was REALLY expensive.
Vinyl was one thing that didn't work, in a couple of
variations. Neither did duct tape, and a few other things I
don't remember. The steel shim hasn't budged.
A piece of 3/4" thin PVC pipe (the cheesy Schedule 120 (?)
stuff they sell for cheapskate sprinkler systems) might
work. There was a piece of scrap laying on my workbench
from another whaler project, so I just ran a quick
experiment. Cut to length. Then cut lengthwise, removing
about 1/8" of material (otherwise it's too big). It slipped
over the rail nicely. But I'm leaving the shingle.
Chuck
Whalen posted 04-08-2005 10:53 PM ET (US)
I just bought the same thing at boaters world online. It has an adapter for 7/8 with it. A thin wall plastic clamshell.
whaler1234 posted 04-09-2005 07:32 AM ET (US)
Excellent advice! I bought a 10' 3/4 inch pvc pipe (200psi) for $1.50. (the thin walled stuff). The pipe actually popped right into one side of the mount. Outlined the mount and cut w/ my dremel. Measured the other side and cut. Fits just as snug as my C.E. Smith rod holders and protects my rails too.
Chuck Tribolet posted 04-10-2005 03:25 AM ET (US)
Funny, the thin-walled PVC pipe I had was only 125 PSI. Maybe
it's gotten better -- I bought 25 years ago for my first house.
I learned my lesson there used Sch 40 (the good stuff) for
this house. But there was still a piece up in the rafters.
Admiral Linda is quite familar with the problem as she was
usually the one that had to straighten up the antenna. When
I told her about WT's idea to use PVC, and that I wasn't going
to change from the shingles, she said, and I quote: "If it
ain't fixed, don't break it." ;-)

Chuck

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Author	Topic: Cabelas Rail Ratchet VHF Antenna Mount doesn't fit 170 railing
whaler1234	posted 04-07-2005 05:29 PM ET (US) FYI, I purchased the Rail Ratchet VHF Antenna Mount (Item: IF-010535) from Cabelas hoping this was the Shakespeare model. It looks exactly like the Shakespeare Style 4190 Rail Antenna Mount, but not sure if it is. It comes in a plain white box with no markings or paperwork from Shakespeare. Anyways, the specs say it fits 7/8" railings, but when trying to mount to my center console grab rail, it is too large. I could probably make a vinyl gasket of some sort, but don't want to bother if this is not the correct size.
WT	posted 04-07-2005 06:46 PM ET (US) You might try cutting a piece of PVC pipe (sprinkler pipe) and then cutting it in half again. The two pieces will protect your rail from scratches and act as a washer.
Chuck Tribolet	posted 04-07-2005 08:15 PM ET (US) The real Shake had the same problem on my '97ish Montauk. I tried lots of things off and for about five years. What finally fixed it was a metal shim. I used a piece of metal repair shingle (the brown metal you shove under the roof shingles as a band-aid till it quits raining and you get a new roof). Dunno what's it's made of, but a magnet sticks to it, so it ain't SS. I'm amazed that in a couple of years it hasn't rusted away, but there's ZERO rust. I looked for SS sheet but it was REALLY expensive. Vinyl was one thing that didn't work, in a couple of variations. Neither did duct tape, and a few other things I don't remember. The steel shim hasn't budged. A piece of 3/4" thin PVC pipe (the cheesy Schedule 120 (?) stuff they sell for cheapskate sprinkler systems) might work. There was a piece of scrap laying on my workbench from another whaler project, so I just ran a quick experiment. Cut to length. Then cut lengthwise, removing about 1/8" of material (otherwise it's too big). It slipped over the rail nicely. But I'm leaving the shingle. Chuck
Whalen	posted 04-08-2005 10:53 PM ET (US) I just bought the same thing at boaters world online. It has an adapter for 7/8 with it. A thin wall plastic clamshell.
whaler1234	posted 04-09-2005 07:32 AM ET (US) Excellent advice! I bought a 10' 3/4 inch pvc pipe (200psi) for $1.50. (the thin walled stuff). The pipe actually popped right into one side of the mount. Outlined the mount and cut w/ my dremel. Measured the other side and cut. Fits just as snug as my C.E. Smith rod holders and protects my rails too.
Chuck Tribolet	posted 04-10-2005 03:25 AM ET (US) Funny, the thin-walled PVC pipe I had was only 125 PSI. Maybe it's gotten better -- I bought 25 years ago for my first house. I learned my lesson there used Sch 40 (the good stuff) for this house. But there was still a piece up in the rafters. Admiral Linda is quite familar with the problem as she was usually the one that had to straighten up the antenna. When I told her about WT's idea to use PVC, and that I wasn't going to change from the shingles, she said, and I quote: "If it ain't fixed, don't break it." ;-) Chuck