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Antron 99 colour discolouration

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Helped a buddy replace his ageing Antron 99 with a IMAX 2000. It looked like alligator skin and was greenish black brown kinda. Completely discoloured…hard to describe. I found this weird as Ive had mine over 30 years. It is destined to be scrapped as its been up for at least a couple decades.
It worked well and wondered if anybody else has ever seen this.
 
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Once the gelcoat goes and little cracks form in the fiberglass, moisture seeps in and after a few freeze/thaw events, the cracks get big enough for stuff to grow in them. Mold, mildew, fungus, mosses, etc. And that stuff will stain the fiberglass. Some places don't have those sorts of problems, but the sun will eventually kill the fiberglass anyway. Fiberglass antennas can be maintained to remain in great shape. Take it down every few years, clean it well with your favorite dish soap and let dry, give it a quick sand with some fine grit paper, wipe it down with your solvent of choice, and give it a couple of coats of Rustoleum epoxy paint. A couple top coats with a 2k high-gloss clearcoat will keep it slick and protected from UV. Anti-seize the joints, dielectric grease in the connector, and wrap the connection with self-sealing silicone tape. Don't block the drains in case water does manage to get in.
 
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ur20v said:
Once the gelcoat goes and little cracks form in the fiberglass, moisture seeps in and after a few freeze/thaw events, the cracks get big enough for stuff to grow in them. Mold, mildew, fungus, mosses, etc. And that stuff will stain the fiberglass. Some places don't have those sorts of problems, but the sun will eventually kill the fiberglass anyway. Fiberglass antennas can be maintained to remain in great shape. Take it down every few years, clean it well with your favorite dish soap and let dry, give it a quick sand with some fine grit paper, wipe it down with your solvent of choice, and give it a couple of coats of Rustoleum epoxy paint. A couple top coats with a 2k high-gloss clearcoat will keep it slick and protected from UV. Anti-seize the joints, dielectric grease in the connector, and wrap the connection with self-sealing silicone tape. Don't block the drains in case water does manage to get in.
Click to expand...

Absolutely logical and makes perfect sense. I explained to the fellow that antenna maintenance is a thing and in particular to his aluminum antennas. We do get summers at 30+ w/humidex to 100F and winters as low as -40F so cracking makes sense.

I have had the end whip on a Antron 99 and an IMAX unscrew itself due to wind vibration and end up on the ground. I had them screwed in tight with the lock washer.( not taped and are now…)
I have never lubricated the joints as IMHO lubrication is to aid in removal and I want it to stay together… :) YMMV

Also taping the joints makes sense to me but he was advised by an expert against that when we changed out his Antron last week but we did it anyway with Self sealing tape everywhere but the feedline connector.
Turns out there is 2 distinct camps on taping….lol

What I found interesting is I have seen many Antron 99 etc.. antennas in the air over years and have never seen one discolour. Ive had mine since the late 80s and its still its normal colour.
Thanks for the input!
 
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Yeah, I am on the fence with taping joints. If moisture manages to get in, it will be trapped. I suppose you could use dielectric grease and then wrap with fusing silicone tape, but that's messy. That's why I like antiseize. It doesn't prevent tightening to required torque and doesn't promote incidental/accidental loosening, just inhibits galling, oxidation/corrosion (and galvanic corrosion when the appropriate formula is used). If you are concerned about vibration, the hardware can easily be drilled for safety wire.
 
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