Installing a Shakespeare Marine Antenna for your VHF Marine Radio

Your marine radio is probably one of the most important electronic items aboard your boat. In the case of an emergency, your marine radio will provide communication to the Coast Guard and other boats in your vicinity. No matter how good the marine radio is, it will only perform as well as the antenna connected to it. In the case of marine antenna, size is important.
As is the case with most antenna, the higher your Shakespeare marine antenna is the further you will be able to communicate. If the boat is operating on a lake then distances are not so much of a problem. But if the boat is operating at sea then distance becomes a problem and choosing the correct Shakespeare marine antenna becomes more important.
The radio waves from a marine VHF radio travel in straight lines so your marine antenna has to be able to see the other antenna in order to communicate with it. As the distance increases between marine antennna, they fall below the horizon and curvature of the earth decreases line of sight.
The first step in choosing a Shakespeare marine antenna is to decide on how much range is needed. Getting the maximum range possible based on where the boat operates and the limitations posed, is always optimum.
In order to get approximately 5 miles range, a 3-foot marine antenna would usually suffice. If another boat in your vicinity also had a 3-foot marine antenna connected to their marine radio, you are essentially getting 10 mile range (5 miles for your boat and 5 miles on the other boat).
Gain, which is measured in dB, helps focus the marine antenna energy which makes the antenna more efficient and powerful. When choosing how much gain is needed on your antenna it helps to adhere to these basics.
If you have a sailboat, then you have the advantage of a long mast onto which the marine antenna can be located. A sailboat should normally use a 3 dB gain antenna. Boats that normally operate in calm waters should use a 9dB Shakespeare marine antenna and ski boats and power boats should use a 3dB or 6dB marine antenna.
The mounting of the Shakespeare marine antenna is important. Rail mountings include ratchets which allow lowering of the marine antenna. This is helpful when boats are trailered and covered. It also helps when boats are operating in tree lines - like fishing boats. The ratchet mount also helps compensate for surfaces that are not completely horizontal or vertical.
When mounting your Shakespeare marine antenna for your marine radio try an always mount the antenna as high as possible. Mount it away from large metal objects and keep it away from other antennas on the boat. Mount it 3 feet or more from the marine radio.
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