 Offshore Radio Antenna
Yes they work. I had the same delimma you are talking about when I purchased a 23 ft Mako in 1978 onto which I first installed a Shakespeare 8 ft, 6db antenna on the top of my t-top. This antenna worked fine and I found I could transmit about 15 miles to another like size boat and 30 miles to the marine operator. I wanted more range so I went to a Shakespeare model 4018, 19 ft, 9db antenna and my range almost doubled. I also installed an external speaker on the radio. Several people told me that the 19 ft 9db antenna would not work on my small boat because it rolled around too much and was not a stable enough platform for a 9db antenna, but I am still using these antennas on small boats and have not experienced any transmitting or receiving problems.
Three years ago I was 15 miles east of Bimini (about 68 miles from Miami) and had an engine problem on my 31 Contender. I had no problem calling the marine operator in Miami and completing a call to my mechanic who helped me solve my problem over the radio. I'm confident I could not have placed that call with an 8 ft, 6db antenna.
On the down side some think the big antenna looks funny sticking a long ways up above anything else on the boat, it requires a solid upper mount at least 4 ft above the base mount, and it requires more work when trailering as it must be lowered and or taken apart (it is a 2 piece antenna), and secured to something (I lower the antenna forward and wrap a small towel arount the upper part, and then secure it to the fwd grabrail with a small bungee cord)
[This message was edited by Cat-fishn' on 07-23-02 at 11:40 AM.] | 
