VHF antenna

Dave270

New Member
Jul 21, 2022
6
Boat Info
2018 270 SDX OB
Engines
300 OB
I have a SDX270OB with arch and soft top. I have a hand held VHF but I always forget to recharge it. I would like to install a fixed VHF but I can’t figure out where to put the antenna. I’m thinking a shorter 5’ would fit my need but I don’t want it to interfere with either my bow/cockpit or mooring covers. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks!
 
You dont list a location but bigger is better so use the 8 foot Galaxy 5225 . There are many locations where it wont be a problem, just look
 
My 8 footer is mounted on a S/S ratchet mount, right next to the helm on the outside of the hull just below the windshield / side windows. It is below the cockpit cover and doesn't interfere with the covers or anything.
 
FDA10156-BB74-45E2-AFA5-EBF8DC389487.jpeg
If you can’t find a good flat spot you can make one. All you will need is a contour tool, router and a piece of plastic board. No bigger than the mount. Use the tool to get a good idea of the area you want to mount the antenna. Transfer those to the board. Now use a router or a Dremel to carve out the contour. Drill your holes and use Stainless hardware.

It’s not as hard as it sounds, I promise
 
Why not mount it to the side of the arch like these boats or if your arch is not solid you could mount it to the top like the.third boat in.
8E7A1C6B-4CFB-42E6-B0BC-546622656DBC.jpeg
 
My 8 footer is mounted on a S/S ratchet mount, right next to the helm on the outside of the hull just below the windshield / side windows. It is below the cockpit cover and doesn't interfere with the covers or anything.
 
Thank you for the idea and I agree it would work with the cockpit cover. I thought about that spot but I often use my mooring cover which fits below the rub rail so I’m concerned with ripping the cover on the antenna mount. Otherwise that spot would be a good option. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of flat locations on this boat that are open with the cover installed.
 
This is how mine turned out
 

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Thank you for the idea and I agree it would work with the cockpit cover. I thought about that spot but I often use my mooring cover which fits below the rub rail so I’m concerned with ripping the cover on the antenna mount. Otherwise that spot would be a good option. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of flat locations on this boat that are open with the cover installed.
I had my mooring cover altered at a canvas shop by making a pocket for the antenna and adding extra canvass reinforcement. They charged about $150 for the work.
 
The VHF antenna’s work via line of sight. Basically if there isn’t a mass of something blocking the path of the radio signal it can transmit to it. The best spot to mount the antenna is as high as possible on your boat. There are basically two antennas from Shakespeare to chose from a 4’ and an 8’. The 8’ one is best for calmish waters as is transmits a sort of oval shaped bubble out from the boat. If the boat is rocking a lot like it would in open ocean the edges of this oval will be rising and falling above and below the horizon which can be detrimental for longer range transmission clarity. The 4’ antenna transmits more of a spherical bubble out from the boat. This one doesn’t go out quite as far from the boat as the 8’ one but it is far less affected by the rocking motion of a boat. Also never coil the antenna wire into a loop to deal with the excess. Fold it flat and zip tie it. The loop creates a issue with electromagnetic interference that will also affect your signal strength.
 
On my 21 foot runabout I had a Shakespear QC series 3-foot 3db stainless steel antenna. The perfect antenna for that boat. The QC (quick connect) antennas can be removed in a flash so the boat cover can be installed.
You can also get the QC series in a 4-foot fiberglass at 3DB and 8-foot fiberglass at 6db.
 
My 8 footer is mounted on a S/S ratchet mount, right next to the helm on the outside of the hull just below the windshield / side windows. It is below the cockpit cover and doesn't interfere with the covers or anything.
Did you mount your antenna there by choice or was there an existing SS fitting there? I have a 175 and in that exact area I have a fitting like an antenna would go in. Did Sea Ray equip the boats this way without an actual antenna? I’m going down to Florida this summer and cruising on the ICW and thought a radio was a good idea.
 
A radio is a great idea in emergency. Especially if you register your MMSI. nNow i dont mean to sound like an old foggey….
Back in the day it was nearly impossible on a weekend to get a clear channel/call on VHF. Too much radio traffic, crazy. All we had was 9, 16, 68, 72. For thousands of boats on a weekend.
Now, VHF is crickets. A cell phone has service anywhere on the bay. Nobody is on VHF. Except the Coast Guard.
I been out all week riding around, my VHF always on cause its my clock. All I hear all day…
Check, Check, Radio Check. About twice an hour. Or a sailboat asking a marina if their transient slip is still available because there is no wind and they are 6 hours late getting to their destination.
 
A radio is a great idea in emergency. Especially if you register your MMSI. nNow i dont mean to sound like an old foggey….
Back in the day it was nearly impossible on a weekend to get a clear channel/call on VHF. Too much radio traffic, crazy. All we had was 9, 16, 68, 72. For thousands of boats on a weekend.
Now, VHF is crickets. A cell phone has service anywhere on the bay. Nobody is on VHF. Except the Coast Guard.
I been out all week riding around, my VHF always on cause its my clock. All I hear all day…
Check, Check, Radio Check. About twice an hour. Or a sailboat asking a marina if their transient slip is still available because there is no wind and they are 6 hours late getting to their destination.
VHF will be CB radio in a few years. A cute antique. NOAA dropped support forRastor charts last year even though they were the most accurate charts for last 100 years. Now its all ENC, which are crap. Believe me, same gonna happen VHF eventually.
And before you ask why ENC are crap, Rastor had compass rose, had land marks like water towers, buildings, thing you could recognize. ENC has none of that. I aint been out in fog yet with ENC but I know I don’t want to. You could dead reckon your way home with a Rastor. Good luck with ENC.
Rant over.
 
I had it on the other day, for a couple hours around the bay. Scan mode, and I didn't hear anything at all.

Last year, every day it was the Coast Guard announcing that "blasting was about to occur" :eek:
 
VHF will be CB radio in a few years. A cute antique. NOAA dropped support forRastor charts last year even though they were the most accurate charts for last 100 years. Now its all ENC, which are crap. Believe me, same gonna happen VHF eventually.
And before you ask why ENC are crap, Rastor had compass rose, had land marks like water towers, buildings, thing you could recognize. ENC has none of that. I aint been out in fog yet with ENC but I know I don’t want to. You could dead reckon your way home with a Rastor. Good luck with ENC.
Rant over.

VHF isn't going anywhere in any kind if time frame. It is the only thing used by commercial craft. It even supports digital and AIS rides on that as well. Until a completely new type of communication is dreamed up, VHF will be the primary Marine communication venue.

Now that's not to say they shouldn't come up with something new. But it's only been around since the 1950's.

EDIT: And only paper charts are being "Canceled" that goes into effect in 2025. https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/charts/noaa-raster-charts.html
 

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