VHF antenna on mast head?

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Jeff Prideaux

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May 11, 2004
85
- - Richmond, VA
Has anyone mounted a VHF antenna on the mast head of a H216 (or similar boat)? Attached is the top of my mast. Would it be possible to drill a hole in the mast and run a coax cable down inside the mast to come out somewhere near the bottom? Currently I have a simple hand-held marine radio, but I was wondering what it would take to get an antenna on the mast (to increase my broadcast distance)...
 
T

Tom2909

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May 27, 2004
225
- - Boston
Yes

If you can remove the top and/or bottom plates of the mast, it makes it an easier task to feed the cable through. Also, the cable will slap around inside the mast unless you do something to prevent it. A typical solution is to attach three tie wraps every couple of feet, leaving the tails on and orienting them so they point out 120 degrees from each other. Look in a West Marine (or similar) catalog for antenna, mounting brackets and coax cable and connectors. WM have articles on selecting and installing, too. Fair winds, Tom
 
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Mr.Ernie

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May 16, 2004
139
Hunter 216 Lake Hartwell GA
Been There

I installed a masthead antenna on a Catalina 27 I once owned and found that it did not increase my range as long as I was using a handheld unit. (I think all handhelds, at least back then, were limited to 5 watts of output power.) After adding a 25 watt installed unit, it worked great.
 
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