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Ideas?

hobie102

hobie102

Active Member
Feb 25, 2014
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I am in the process of picking up a 27 ft sailboat and will be docking it in a marina on Lake Champlain for the season. Anybody have any suggestions for a decent antenna setup for ssb on the boat? Will be using 1 or 2 solar panels for power & charging of the deep cycle batteries. Would like to use either the 102" whip from the house or just spin the Sirio off of the car and use that on a mount secured semi permanently to the boat somewhere. There is no ground plane. Any suggestions are appreciated. I would love to install the antenna on the top of the mast but I really don't want a lightning rod like that on the boat as well as having to unstep the mast during the season to fix something if there's a problem. The standing rigging would make a nice ground plane. Dunka
 

In this case I would just mount some type of vertical like a A99 or Imax. Getting a good ground is going to be your main issue to deal with if you choose some other type of antennna,. Only other option would be a dipole strung from the mast, make the top of the mast the apex and then bring the ends down at 45 degrees.
 
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Hobie , Could you mount a Sirio or a Firestick or one of those antennas like a Firestick with a ground plane kit on top of the mast? I am assuming the mast is aluminum will that act as a decent ground plane with out the kit ? Is your VHF antenna already mounted on top of the mast like most sail boats ? The top of the mast would be the best place if not Shakespeare sells CB antennas for boats check their website or You tube channel they have a lot of video's not sure if they have one for the CB antenna .Years ago I ran a Big Stick on a 36' Cris Craft an had good result's .**Jump_im**
 
w9cll said:
In this case I would just mount some type of vertical like a A99 or Imax. Getting a good ground is going to be your main issue to deal with if you choose some other type of antennna,. Only other option would be a dipole strung from the mast, make the top of the mast the apex and then bring the ends down at 45 degrees.
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DUH! I didn't even think of a dipole. What about stringing it in an inverted v pattern from the shrouds (sidestays)? How do you think having that big chunk of aluminum mast close by would affect it even if it's isolated? I would want it easy to take down when I head out.

357magnum said:
Hobie , Could you mount a Sirio or a Firestick or one of those antennas like a Firestick with a ground plane kit on top of the mast? I am assuming the mast is aluminum will that act as a decent ground plane with out the kit ? Is your VHF antenna already mounted on top of the mast like most sail boats ? The top of the mast would be the best place if not Shakespeare sells CB antennas for boats check their website or You tube channel they have a lot of video's not sure if they have one for the CB antenna .Years ago I ran a Big Stick on a 36' Cris Craft an had good result's .**Jump_im**
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I'm gonna take a look at that stuff. Thanks
I am leery of mounting an antenna on top of the mast for the reasons indicated at the start. From my research, lightning is much more likely to strike a small boat right next to the sailboat with a tall whip sticking up. Something to do with the angles of the standing rigging. Lightning always tries to seek the easiest path to ground. DUNNO.....
 
I wouldn't worry about the antenna on top of the mast in a lightning storm if you get caught in one the mast on a 27' sail boat is so tall I don't think another 4' is going to make a difference , put your head between your leg's an ..... well you know the rest ! lol:whistle:
 
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357magnum said:
I wouldn't worry about the antenna on top of the mast in a lightning storm if you get caught in one the mast on a 27' sail boat is so tall I don't think another 4' is going to make a difference , put your head between your leg's an ..... well you know the rest ! lol:whistle:
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I AM a magnet for trouble. I have an insane story (something I experienced years ago with lightning) I'll tell ya about sometime. Changed my life forever when it comes to lightning and tall pointy objects.:eek:
 
Here's a better Idea , your out there enjoying yourself leave the radio home . Besides with all the Jib an Jibbing an hoisting the Main sail who has time to talk on the CB ? If you have a problem use the VHF . lol ;)
 
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After watching that vid I'm getting a sail boat but then again Hobie's the Go Pro king I don't want any vid's of him dancing on deck in a Banana Hammock !! I'm Tapping Out !!!!:eek:
 
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Lil'Yeshua said:
Yeah! :D
Pacha 67 Sailboat Party - YouTube
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UHHHH....I think I need a bigger boat! Not to mention the wife will kill me although I think she knows that if some hotties wanted to go out for sail and sun, how could I refuse! :love:

357magnum said:
After watching that vid I'm getting a sail boat but then again Hobie's the Go Pro king I don't want any vid's of him dancing on deck in a Banana Hammock !! I'm Tapping Out !!!!:eek:
Click to expand...

Hammock? Heck, I'm commando most of the time anyways! Clothes suck!
 
You can check out "Sailnet" for ideas if it's still around a lot of useful info.
I use to sail on Lake Erie and Shakespeare fiberglass is the way to go.
When you drop your mast for the winter, seal and reseal the connector to the coax. Cable tie the coax to the top of the mast or it won't take a take long for the wind to beat it to death. (it sucks to climb the spike in a chair).
If you want to get really serious you can make your own ground plain buy placing long copper strips inside the hull but it gets expensive.
Some of the above ideas may work, but not when under sail, the last thing you need is a dipole wrapped around a sheet..
 
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