VHF antenna

[yippykiyay]

Hello all. New user here. Looking forward to being a part of the community!

I am in the process of installing a VHF radio on my boat and I'm at the stage of choosing the right antenna for my application. Here are some of the application particulars:
Boat: 21' Thunderjet welded aluminum with a soft top.
Aftermarket radar/rod arch.
Radio: Standard Horizons 1400GB.
Boat is used primarily for fishing the Queen Charlotte Straight, Vancouver Island BC.

I have narrowed things down to two choices. First, an 8' antenna mounted on the starboard gunwale, just forward of the windshield. Second, a 4' antenna mounted on top of the radar/rod arch.

In either case the antenna will be removable for ease of towing.

Which install location and antenna length do you recommend?

 

[dingbat]

VHF is line of sight. Whichever location raises the antenna the highest off the water.

I have a 5225-XT (8’) antenna is mounted on a fold down mount on top of my hardtop. Puts the top of my antenna at roughly 18’. Gives me roughly 7-8 miles of range

 

[Scott Danforth]

8' antenna mounted as high on the boat that you can. Make sure it's mounted to an adjustable mount.

Lower it under low bridges

 

[redneck joe]

Lower it under low bridges

yeah i forgot about that once....

 

[Scott Danforth]

yeah i forgot about that once....

So did I.......Thwap...Thwap...Thwap .. crack

 

[yippykiyay]

I'm inclined to buy a removable antenna mount because I tow the boat long distances and there is no good way to stow the antenna if I mount it in top of the arch. Should I be concerned about signal losses through the connection?

 

[alldodge]

Best connection is a soldered connection. Twist lock is not as good

 

[dingbat]

I'm inclined to buy a removable antenna mount because I tow the boat long distances and there is no good way to stow the antenna if I mount it in top of the arch.

Never seen a mount that will take the abuse (pounding) that is remotely easily to remove.

I use stainless steel, dual ratchet mounts and antenna clips to hold them in the down position.

Should I be concerned about signal losses through the connection?

Always….technically the solder connector is the “best” but few have the skill to make the connection properly.

Having said that, I’m not a big fan on solder connectors in saltwater applications. Started using the Shakespeare PL259-CP-G, gold plated connectors when they first came out and never looked back

 

[Scott Danforth]

With a ratchet mount, towing is never an issue

 

[yippykiyay]

If I mount the antenna on the radar arch it will be completely unsupported for the entire 8 foot length. It will take some hard abuse bouncing around in the horizontal position for thousands of miles towing.

 

[Scott Danforth]

It will last over 20 years towing horizontal even if you ran the BAJA 1000.

The loading from gravity is less than wind load and wave pounding when in the up position

 

[airshot]

If your concerned, fabricate a removable support to use while trailering. Look at "RAM" mounts as a thought to get you started.

 

[redneck joe]

Zero concern with lying it down for towing. The forces of that is 1% of the forces that being on the water with it has on it.

 

[mike_i]

Mount the antenna on a metal, not plastic, ratchet mount and use a bungee cord to secure it when laid down while towing if it starts to flap around.