VHF Antenna - replacment

rlynch03

rlynch03

Well-Known Member
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May 16, 2019
1,035
Annapolis, MD
Boat Info
07 52 Sedan Bridge, 2019 Brig Falcon 360HT-30HP Honda, 2003 16' Dauntless
Engines
Cummins QSM 11 660 HP w/ ZF 325-1A
Have you replaced your VHF antenna? Mine is looking a bit rough and the exposed wire insulation is falling off.

I noticed West Marine has a standard 8’ antenna for about $80 and an “extra heavy duty” antenna for $125.

Any need for the extra heavy duty?

Appreciate any thoughts
 
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In your boating how do you use the VHF? Hailing someone close to the boat or far away? If you are contacting or listening someone close to the boat keep the antenna gain low (between 4db and 6db). If you are in open water and need long distances then gain should be higher. The issue is as gain goes up the beam width goes down and your antenna will only pick up and transmit within that beam width. I have a 8 foot long 6db antenna atop the bridge roof; seems to work well for the boating we do. I thought this was educational - https://www.nmea.org/Assets/nmea antenna installations ibex presentation 2011.pdf
VHF-Antennas-2.jpg
 
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There's a very noticeable difference in the construction, both external and internal, in VHF antennas. The cheaper ones will yellow and expose glass strands much sooner, have thinner fiberglass shells and the actual "antenna" part (inside) is simply a coax cable. As you progress to the better ones (Sea Ray actually typically used a high end one to begin with) - something like the the Shakes Galaxy 5525 XT, for example - you get an SS base and the internals become solid brass and copper. It's a huge difference in quality.

Not sure about West Marine - I never really buy from them as I have better sources.
 
Maybe this is a dumb question, but since the antennas have a fiberglass exterior, should we be applying wax periodically to increase longevity?

Jaybeaux
 
Jaybeaux said:
Maybe this is a dumb question, but since the antennas have a fiberglass exterior, should we be applying wax periodically to increase longevity?

Jaybeaux
Click to expand...

The actual antenna is the wire inside the fiberglass tube. Wax isn’t going to cause a problem. Painting it on the other hand might complicate things.

And since somebody has to say this, If you rake the antenna back it will work worse when you are on plane. If you want properly rake the antenna tilt it forward!
 
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