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Stealth AntennaSteve Lang
The CR-914 comes with an external antenna which works fine. However, some of the racing crowd, and/or those that don't like the look of the external antenna, have been coming up with different ways to install the antenna below decks. Most skippers believe that the antenna should be laid out in as straight a line as possible - I agree. It is also important not to put it down in the bottom of the boat or along the side because it will be below the waterline from time to time. So here is my solution. Take two plastic straws, slice the end of one of them lengthwise about 3/8" so it will allow you to push it inside the second straw. Either glue or tape the joint so it doesn't come apart. Caution: Before you glue or tape, look down the tube to the joint area to make sure it won't obstruct the antenna wire being pushed through. On the foredeck is an eye (furthest forward) that provides the tack/downhaul connection for the jib boom. If you have it installed, unscrew it and remove. Drill a 11/64th inch hole through the deck between the two screw holes for the eye fitting. Take a piece of rigging string about 8-10" long and make a loop. Stick the loop through the hole in the deck so the loop opens below deck. Take the double straw assembly and stick it forward from the cockpit, under the deck (starboard side of the keel tube), until you thread it through the loop of string. This is a bit tricky to do, but move the straw slowly until you see it through the hole and then slide it back so the forward end of the tube is visible. Then steer it through the string loop. Pull up on the string loop to hold the straw tube against the under side of the deck. Now slide the straw forward or aft until about 1" sticks out into the hatch opening. Holding the string taught and against the side of the hole, drop a couple of drops of CA glue on the string and the straw so that the string is glued to the inside of the hole, and the straw is glued to the deck. When dry, trim off the excess string sticking up out of the hole. Fill the hole with silicon sealer, and while wet, reinstall the deck eye. This will seal the hole against any leakage. At the aft end of the straw, take a piece of tape (duct tape is good) and tape the straw to the underside of the deck just forward of the hatch opening right against the keel tube. Holding the boat upside down, give it a couple of drops of CA to glue the straw and tape permanently to the deck. With the receiver mounted, straighten the antenna wire as best you can and then feed it gently into the aft end of the straw tube. If it gets hung up, twirl the wire back and forth until it goes all the way in. This is best done with the bow of the boat down. When the antenna is all the way in the straw tube and the part of the wire between the receiver and the aft end of the tube is positioned not to interfere with the servos, take a little silicon sealant and squirt in the aft end of the straw tube. This will keep the antenna wire from working its way out of the tube. Since the silicon does not adhere well with the straw, the wire can easily be removed from the tube if desired. Your installation is complete and your antenna is now positioned right down the center of your boat as high as you can mount it. The installation is light weight and permanent, yet the receiver and antenna wire can easily be removed. |