Tuna Tower Rigging 1 - Antennas & Lights

[DaleH]

Planning my 2010 upgrade of the tuna tower I bought from Stan. To help clear the sport cabin roof top, I plan on moving the antennas and all-around masthead light. Well, why not throw them as high up on the tower frame as I can? Note I will not be adding a sunshade to the tower, not needed up here in the Northeast.

Each item already is mounted on a stainless steel ratcheting base, so I’m thinking of putting the antennas off the sides and the all-around light off the back of the middle of the tower. I’ll put a starboard piece between the SS base and aluminum cage to isolate the SS from the aluminum.

These positions get them up and away from people, i.e., behind them, so they’ll be less likely to grab them in waves or whatever, like when getting into and out of the tower ‘cage’. Thoughts? Any anticipated drawbacks? Remember, I don’t trailer the boat nor need to go under any bridges, but even when/if I do, these will drop down to a level lower than the highest point on the tower frame as installed.

Stay tuned for Tower Rigging 2, a conceptual plan for controls and steering wheel via a custom teak helm pod ...

 

[Megabyte]

Looks like a good concept and doesn't look like anything will be in your way.
So when does fabrication start?

 

[Brian S]

I just completed this project on my tower, added the second radio and mounted each antenna on the sides of the tower on aluminum plates welded to the tower bar. It looks great, will try to take some pictures in the next week or so along with a bunch of other projects I wrapped up. I'm still looking to relocate my anchor light but need another plate welded on the back of the tower.

 

[DaleH]

Why weld when you can simply bolt? Says the avid DIY'r ... , just kidding .

 

[Brian S]

Why weld when you can simply bolt? Says the avid DIY'r ... , just kidding .

I would prefer that method, what reccomendation do you have...I think my tower pipe is roughly 2.5"

Here is my light:

I would need a new mount.

 

[BradV]

I left my vhf and all around light on the cabin. THe light still sits in the factory location and it just happened to end up directly under the seat so out of the way. The VHF stayed in the same spot too behind the starboard rear leg of the tower. Only downsides to that is making sure you seal up the holes where the wire goes into the pipe and then actually pulling the wire through the legs what a pain in the butt. The fabricator cut the holes and grinded out any rough spots so that no cables would get snagged but it still sucked. Other than that look at where the legs will end up in relation to whats inside the cabin and where you will have to run the wires to avoid having a bunch coming down in some weird places. You can build a valance out of starboard or if you have a good fabricator they can buil you the pipes like i have dropping down. It looks like your seat is a sit down steering station which you need to make sure when someone other than you is sitting up there and leans back when sitting that they arent going to get whacked by a dancing antennae.