two antennas

• Aug 27, 2019

• #1

dvx216

Well-Known Member

GOLD Sponsor

Feb 1, 2012

2,695

Catawaba Island/Orrville,Oh.

Boat Info

340 Sundancer 2001

Engines

8.1s 370 v drv.

When I bought my 310 Da it had two VHF style antennas . The one was obvious what it was for it went to the VHF radio but the second was a mystery. This summer I was redoing the PO's poor attempt to install a fridge in the storage space by the cabin door and when I pulled the fridge out I found the coax to the second antenna rolled up in the storage box.

 

• Aug 27, 2019

• #2

Adefelice

Member

Jul 18, 2012

79

CT River

Boat Info

01 Wellcraft 3700 Martinique, Mercury RIB with 8hp Yamaha 2 stroke.

Engines

Twin 454 7.4 MPI Horizon

Maybe for better FM reception on the stereo. I've also seen people do this just for symmetry and aesthetics.

 

• Aug 27, 2019

• #3

G

Golfman25

Well-Known Member

Sep 12, 2009

7,643

IL

Boat Info

1998 370 Sundancer

Engines

7.4 MPI

I'd vote for looks. Twin antennas look cool.

 

• Aug 27, 2019

• #4

be_prepared

Active Member

Oct 12, 2015

377

Mattapoisett, MA

Boat Info

2002 Sea Ray Sundancer 340DA

Engines

Twin Mercruiser Horizon 8.1 inboards

If you ever decide to add AIS, you can use the second antenna for that.

 

• Aug 27, 2019

• #5

L

Lazy Daze

Well-Known Member

TECHNICAL Contributor

Apr 21, 2009

18,891

PA

Boat Info

Various

Engines

Various

Is it an ACTUAL VHF antenna? Check the model number on the antenna - Shakespeare, for example, does make an AM/FM antenna that looks just like one of their VHF antennas. The internals are different, though.

 

• Aug 27, 2019

• #6

dwna1a

Well-Known Member

PLATINUM Sponsor

Apr 23, 2012

5,978

James River

Boat Info

88 Weekender 300 "Seahorse"

Engines

Twins 350

I have two Shakepeare one for VHF other for AM/FM. I really did it to make the boat look faster.

 

• Aug 27, 2019

• #7

F

FootballFan

Well-Known Member

Jun 20, 2012

3,578

Florida

Boat Info

Marquis 59

Engines

MTU Series 60

Probably for cosmetics.

Any of the satellite domes (KVH for example) are available as Dome only, no internals. People will put the empty one on a boat for the symmetry.

A friend of mine bought a boat new a few years ago. I wont mention who the manufacturer was. His "new from the factory" boat showed up with a satellite dome. It was empty. Manufacturer put it on cause it looked cool.

 

• Aug 27, 2019

• #8

GypsmJim

Well-Known Member

Aug 8, 2018

1,173

Western New York

Boat Info

'19 SPX 190 OB, 150 & 5 Mercs
'17 Whaler 150 Montauk
'15 Yamaha FXHO
'60 Mulray Dinghy
'52 Lyman 15'

Engines

Mercury 150 4-stroke
72 Outboards representing 12 manufacturers

My radio only needed a short antenna and that was mounted sideways under the dash.

My second big antenna was for a Loran. When the system was disabled I coiled the coax cable and left it under the dash, where the old Loran had been mounted.