Best 8ft Shakespeare VHF antenna? - The Hull Truth

phin · 07-24-2009, 02:30 PM

What model Shakespeare VHF antenna gives the absolute best performance offshore? I see the different models for sale at all sorts of prices but some have the same or close specs. Which ones perform the very best (and why?)

Thanks.

BajaFeeling · 07-24-2009, 02:54 PM

You can get some idea by reading this 2 year old "Power Boat Report" antenna test.
http://www.llelectronics.com/docs/aw...HFAntennas.pdf

bc22 · 07-24-2009, 06:37 PM

I've had best performance and clarity with Shakespeare's 8' Galaxy.
Also a good antannae but a small step down to the Galaxy was my 8' Pacific Aerial (NZ company). I switched from the Galaxy to the Pac Aerial on my old boat due to mounting issues as the Pac Aerial has a unique spin-off capability with their whips and mounts.
Current boat has the 8' Galaxy i took off the old boat and a 8' Digital antannae that came with the boat. Not sure what model of Digital other than it's 8'. The Digital was hooked up to an Icom 402 and worked well, but i temporarily switched the antannae on the 402 to the Galaxy and found it to work better (clearer sounding).
I now run 2 radios: Icom 504 with 8' Galaxy and secondary radio Icom 402 with the 8' Digital.
If i were to buy another antanna, i wouldn't hesitate to get another Galaxy.

Summer Duck · 07-27-2009, 08:42 AM

The Shakespeare Galaxy 5225XP is the best performing in the Galaxy line.
It is the same as the 5225XT but has a silver plated element. Silver is a better conductor of RF than Copper thus the better performance - about $30.00 more.

TTaxi · 07-27-2009, 02:27 PM

(1st part deleted. Thanks Baja.)

I use the 8' # 5225XP and 2' (maybe 4'?) extension (w/brace) from the tower-floor hardtop of a 27' boat and get pretty good results but I'm certainly not going to be talking to shore from hellandgone.

BajaFeeling · 07-27-2009, 06:40 PM

TTaxi, the OP did say in the title " the best 8' VHF antenna. And from what I have read, the Galaxy 5225 XP is my choice.

But now I was just in West Marine, since in their new add it says 25% off on all Shakespeare Mariner Series VHF Antennas, to see what they have.

I looked at the Shakespeare antennas, they have a display with some of the antennas cut open to see the guts. Impressive.

Now I find out they have the Mariner 8000 Series that I can't find on Shakes website, those are just made for WM.

Does anyone have any comments about the 8000 Series, they have solid rods and on the 8900 it is even silver plated ?

TTaxi · 07-28-2009, 12:40 AM

Baja- yes ideed he did, thank you, and I completely spaced on that when replying. My apologies!

LI32 · 07-28-2009, 05:27 AM

Sahespeare 5225-XP. I put two of them on my boat this season, one on my Icom M504, and the other on my Icom M422, and am very happy with their performance and range 30+ miles offshore.

reelduel · 07-28-2009, 09:39 AM

so how much does West want for the 5225-XP??

BajaFeeling · 07-28-2009, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reelduel

so how much does West want for the 5225-XP??

I think it was $149.00 and contrary to what I thought at first, only the Mariner Series is 25% off if I read the ad right.
But I will test this when the sales starts on July 30-August 16.
On line I see $119.90 plus shipping, no tax for a total of $130.00.

reelduel · 07-28-2009, 04:28 PM

online @ west I see $179.99 for the SHAKESPEARE

Galaxy 5225-XP 8' Extended Performance VHF Antenna

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs...tial/0/0?N=377 710&Ne=0&Ntt=5225-xp&Ntk=Primary Search&Ntx=mode matchallpartial&Nao=0&Ns=0&keyword=5225-xp&isLTokenURL=true&storeNum=5003&subdeptNum=3&cla ssNum=309

should be able to get $10 rebate right now