Unarmoured or Armoured coaxial cables RG6, RG11, RG59, RG58, RG213, RG214

Common issues

• Outer jacket abrasion or chafe where the cable passes through cable transits or sharp bulkhead edges
• Connector corrosion at exposed antenna feed points, especially N-type or BNC connectors on open deck
• Moisture ingress at deck or bulkhead penetrations with degraded gland seals
• Armour wire corrosion on armoured runs in wet spaces or bilges
• UV degradation of the outer sheath on cable runs exposed to sunlight on open deck
• Increased signal attenuation or intermittent connection from aged or corroded terminations
• Cable bent tighter than its minimum bend radius during installation or re-routing

Inspection checklist

• Visually inspect the jacket along accessible routes for cracking, chafe, or crushing
• Check cable glands and gland seals at bulkhead and deck penetrations
• Inspect connectors and terminations at antennas and junction boxes for corrosion
• Check cable supports and cleating are intact and not causing sharp bends
• Confirm cable route markings/tags are legible and match the cable schedule
• Check earthing/screen continuity on armoured runs
• Test insulation resistance where accessible as part of routine electrical checks

Service intervals

Typical intervals for this design class, not the manufacturer’s figures for your model. The manufacturer’s manual is binding.

Critical spares

• Spare cable length of the correct type and rating
• Replacement connectors matching the cable type (RG6/RG11/RG59/RG58/RG213/RG214 as applicable)
• Cable glands of the correct size and sealing rating
• Heat-shrink or weatherproofing kits for exposed terminations

Safety

• Electric shock risk at damaged or exposed conductors, particularly on armoured runs near wet spaces
• Fire propagation along cable runs if a lower fire-performance cable has been substituted for the type-approved product
• Working aloft when routing or terminating cable at mast-mounted antennas

Class survey

The DNV type approval certificate confirms this cable is approved for marine use, but class checks installation practice as much as the cable itself: correct cable type for the application, no unauthorised substitution, proper support and transit sealing, and that fire-retardant/halogen-free requirements for the space are actually met by what is installed.