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Author Topic:   VHF Antenna on Montauk

Skeeball posted 03-11-2003 03:50 PM ET (US)
I am in need of a VHF antenna for my montauk had been thinking about a 4' mounted to the top of the center console rail but couldn't use the console cover without removing the ant. from its mount first....so is an 8' antenna mounted on the side rail with a ratchet mount near the back the only other alternative? that 8' antenna will look bigger than the boat

Bigshot posted 03-11-2003 04:10 PM ET (US)
Get the 4' whip and use a mount taht you can turn it 180 degrees facing down when you cover the console....or mount it to the rear railing and run wire through tunnel.
Skeeball posted 03-11-2003 04:33 PM ET (US)
Whilre that sounds good I dont know if thats possible the Mills console cover fits pretty snug as it is
triblet posted 03-11-2003 04:36 PM ET (US)
The 8' antenna does not look bigger than the
boat (I have one on my Montauk), and you'll get
more range.

Chuck
wayne baker posted 03-11-2003 04:42 PM ET (US)
Thats true, with line of sight comunication, height is might.
PMUCCIOLO posted 03-11-2003 04:55 PM ET (US)
Skeeball,
One of our Montauks had an 8' antenna mounted on a rail mount at the stern on the port side. The antenna, when lowered, fit nicely on the rail supports going to the hull. We only raised the antenna when we turned the VHF on, which was rarely. The reception was superb, as that is (theoretically) more stable an area than the antenna would encounter if mounted farther forward.
doobee posted 03-11-2003 09:41 PM ET (US)
Short stainless whips are intended to be mounted high up, like on a mast. They do not work well when mounted down low. Put an 8' Whip near the stern on the side rail. If you want superior performance spend the extra money for a Galaxy by Shakespeare.
whale on!
dfmcintyre posted 03-12-2003 08:35 AM ET (US)
Skee -
What I've done with two Montauks was use a standard ratchet mount, (the one with the rectangular base) with an 8' whip.
It will take a little to describe the location, so bear with me:
It was mounted _inside_ the starboard gunnel, about 8" aft of the stainless steel grab rail, where the rail runs vertical. When it is in the down position, the antenna rests on the brackets that hold the grab rail. If you measure right before drilling, set it so the very top of the antenna, one inch or so, rests on the first bracket of the forward bow rail. Hint: attach the antenna to the bracket, place it on the brackets, and mark the hull for drilling.
When down, you slightly bend the antenna, and the bow rail bracket holds the antenna.
Nifty.
Run the wiring up through the tunnel.
Best Don
dfmcintyre posted 03-12-2003 08:39 AM ET (US)
Should have proofed....
Fourth paragraph should have read:
"When placing it in the down position, you slightly bend the top end of the antenna, and slip it _under_ the forward bow rail bracket...rail bracket holds the antenna."
Don
TightPenny posted 03-12-2003 03:10 PM ET (US)
My 8' antenna is mounted on the starboard side of the console. It doesn't look out of place at all.
Bigshot posted 03-12-2003 03:26 PM ET (US)
Wait until she gets a tad weathered and everytime you rub or touch that 8' stick you get fiberglass splinters.....YOWSER!
Mullet posted 03-12-2003 03:57 PM ET (US)
Try this. Mount an 8' fiberglass antenna in the center of the console rail as you described. Either have a custom console cover made or modify a standard one with a slit all the way up the front with a zipper or velcro. Kinda rap it around like a cape and secure it down the front with the velcro.
Taylor posted 03-12-2003 03:58 PM ET (US)
I have a three foot Shakespeare 5241-R (stainless whip) on a 4190 ratcheted rail mount on the starboard side at the stern. Its wired through the tunnel.
In my view, the 4190 rail mount is a thing of beauty, and much better than putting holes in for a screwed on base. Highly recommended.
For my uses a 3db 4' antenna is enough. You may have different requirements.
If you look at http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/003217.html , Forum member Chap recommends two other antennas, one is 3' with 6db gain. That's probably what I would have used had I known.
One problem I ran into was that there is a big coil in the base of the antenna, so the base is about 2" in diameter and 2" high. If the rail mount is on the top of the rail, when I lower the antenna parallel to the rail, the coil gets in the way. So I've mounted the rail mount in the curved part of the rail so the coil is clear either up or down.
triblet posted 03-12-2003 10:08 PM ET (US)
Is there any independent confirmation of the
6 dB gain of the GAM antenna? If true, they
are they only people I know of with a 6 dB
antenna that short (and it's 40", not 3').

Chuck

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Author	Topic: VHF Antenna on Montauk
Skeeball	posted 03-11-2003 03:50 PM ET (US) I am in need of a VHF antenna for my montauk had been thinking about a 4' mounted to the top of the center console rail but couldn't use the console cover without removing the ant. from its mount first....so is an 8' antenna mounted on the side rail with a ratchet mount near the back the only other alternative? that 8' antenna will look bigger than the boat
Bigshot	posted 03-11-2003 04:10 PM ET (US) Get the 4' whip and use a mount taht you can turn it 180 degrees facing down when you cover the console....or mount it to the rear railing and run wire through tunnel.
Skeeball	posted 03-11-2003 04:33 PM ET (US) Whilre that sounds good I dont know if thats possible the Mills console cover fits pretty snug as it is
triblet	posted 03-11-2003 04:36 PM ET (US) The 8' antenna does not look bigger than the boat (I have one on my Montauk), and you'll get more range. Chuck
wayne baker	posted 03-11-2003 04:42 PM ET (US) Thats true, with line of sight comunication, height is might.
PMUCCIOLO	posted 03-11-2003 04:55 PM ET (US) Skeeball, One of our Montauks had an 8' antenna mounted on a rail mount at the stern on the port side. The antenna, when lowered, fit nicely on the rail supports going to the hull. We only raised the antenna when we turned the VHF on, which was rarely. The reception was superb, as that is (theoretically) more stable an area than the antenna would encounter if mounted farther forward.
doobee	posted 03-11-2003 09:41 PM ET (US) Short stainless whips are intended to be mounted high up, like on a mast. They do not work well when mounted down low. Put an 8' Whip near the stern on the side rail. If you want superior performance spend the extra money for a Galaxy by Shakespeare. whale on!
dfmcintyre	posted 03-12-2003 08:35 AM ET (US) Skee - What I've done with two Montauks was use a standard ratchet mount, (the one with the rectangular base) with an 8' whip. It will take a little to describe the location, so bear with me: It was mounted _inside_ the starboard gunnel, about 8" aft of the stainless steel grab rail, where the rail runs vertical. When it is in the down position, the antenna rests on the brackets that hold the grab rail. If you measure right before drilling, set it so the very top of the antenna, one inch or so, rests on the first bracket of the forward bow rail. Hint: attach the antenna to the bracket, place it on the brackets, and mark the hull for drilling. When down, you slightly bend the antenna, and the bow rail bracket holds the antenna. Nifty. Run the wiring up through the tunnel. Best Don
dfmcintyre	posted 03-12-2003 08:39 AM ET (US) Should have proofed.... Fourth paragraph should have read: "When placing it in the down position, you slightly bend the top end of the antenna, and slip it _under_ the forward bow rail bracket...rail bracket holds the antenna." Don
TightPenny	posted 03-12-2003 03:10 PM ET (US) My 8' antenna is mounted on the starboard side of the console. It doesn't look out of place at all.
Bigshot	posted 03-12-2003 03:26 PM ET (US) Wait until she gets a tad weathered and everytime you rub or touch that 8' stick you get fiberglass splinters.....YOWSER!
Mullet	posted 03-12-2003 03:57 PM ET (US) Try this. Mount an 8' fiberglass antenna in the center of the console rail as you described. Either have a custom console cover made or modify a standard one with a slit all the way up the front with a zipper or velcro. Kinda rap it around like a cape and secure it down the front with the velcro.
Taylor	posted 03-12-2003 03:58 PM ET (US) I have a three foot Shakespeare 5241-R (stainless whip) on a 4190 ratcheted rail mount on the starboard side at the stern. Its wired through the tunnel. In my view, the 4190 rail mount is a thing of beauty, and much better than putting holes in for a screwed on base. Highly recommended. For my uses a 3db 4' antenna is enough. You may have different requirements. If you look at http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/003217.html , Forum member Chap recommends two other antennas, one is 3' with 6db gain. That's probably what I would have used had I known. One problem I ran into was that there is a big coil in the base of the antenna, so the base is about 2" in diameter and 2" high. If the rail mount is on the top of the rail, when I lower the antenna parallel to the rail, the coil gets in the way. So I've mounted the rail mount in the curved part of the rail so the coil is clear either up or down.
triblet	posted 03-12-2003 10:08 PM ET (US) Is there any independent confirmation of the 6 dB gain of the GAM antenna? If true, they are they only people I know of with a 6 dB antenna that short (and it's 40", not 3'). Chuck