Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 08-11-2013, 06:11   #1
Registered User
 
BobH260's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 162
Sailboat VHF Antenna

Our boat is 10 years old and we have the mast down now. I am looking at the VHF antenna and thinking it might be wise to replace it. It looks a bit weathered and has scrapped it's way under a few bridges (we have a 55' air-draft).

The present antenna is the 3', 3 dB, base loaded, s/s Shakespeare sailboat antenna. We have been happy with it and it seems to reach out there very well. I have an SWR meter and it was working well before we took the mast down, about 1.6:1 if I recall.

We had a new Metz on the last boat and I was not impressed, it had to be replaced within a year.

Looking at the Westmarine site the Shakespeare has some very poor reviews, have I just been lucky ? any advice ?

Bob
BobH260 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-11-2013, 10:51   #2
Registered User

Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Novato, California
Boat: Rafiki 37
Posts: 288
Re: sailboat VHF antenna

Bob,

Practical Sailor liked Digital Antenna but that review is around 6 years old. Here's the link to Digital Antenna:
VHF Marine Antennas - 3dB to 10dB Gain 3 to 16 ft Lengths for Boat Speedboat Yacht Sailboat & T-Top - Digital Antenna

and there was recently another blog on Cruisers Forum about this:
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...nna-99651.html

What was the problem with your Metz? My stick is out and I was planning on getting one
as it's Coast Guard endorsed. Guess you can't trust anyone in the government.

Ken
kentobin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-11-2013, 12:36   #3
Registered User
 
BobH260's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 162
Re: sailboat VHF antenna

Quote:
Originally Posted by kentobin View Post
Bob,

Practical Sailor liked Digital Antenna but that review is around 6 years old. Here's the link to Digital Antenna:
VHF Marine Antennas - 3dB to 10dB Gain 3 to 16 ft Lengths for Boat Speedboat Yacht Sailboat & T-Top - Digital Antenna

and there was recently another blog on Cruisers Forum about this:
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...nna-99651.html

What was the problem with your Metz? My stick is out and I was planning on getting one
as it's Coast Guard endorsed. Guess you can't trust anyone in the government.

Ken

thanks Ken, thanks for the link, yes lots of information in that thread. Funny I did do a search on VHF antenna and nothing came up.

The Metz antenna only worked for about a year and stopped radiating, not sure why. I replaced it with the cheapo Shakespeare sailboat unit and all worked well. So it was not the coax or connectors.

I like the idea of a s/s whip instead of a fiberglass rod. I sometimes need to pass under a 56 ft bridge with our 55 ft draft so the s/ whip will have a longer life span.

thanks, Bob
BobH260 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-11-2013, 14:54   #4
Registered User

Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Novato, California
Boat: Rafiki 37
Posts: 288
Re: Sailboat VHF Antenna

Hi Bob,

I've used the same search string from different computers and received different results or even just changing the order you type the same words in can make a difference.

I guess my favorite is not saving a link and then the next day I can't find it again no matter what I type in for a search string.

Caveat Emptor.

Have a great weekend.

Ken
kentobin is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
antenna, sail, sailboat, vhf

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Please Recommend a Quality VHF Masthead Antenna Dockhead Marine Electronics 246 06-05-2023 01:11
AIS Transponder and VHF Antennas on the Masthead? Jd1 Marine Electronics 77 27-07-2013 18:32
ICOM M802 DSC antenna? Pa La O La Marine Electronics 45 28-02-2013 10:50
AIS Transponder: Yes or No Lars_L Health, Safety & Related Gear 113 07-10-2012 04:48
Standard Horizon VHF Issues ? davetastic Marine Electronics 15 24-01-2012 18:56

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 05:52.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.