Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
 
Old 23 June 2012, 14:45   #1
Member
 
Country: Ireland
Town: Castlebar
Boat name: Clewless
Make: Valiant DR 490
Length: 4m +
Engine: 60 hp ETEC
MMSI: Awaitng one
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,339
RIBase
VHF antenna

Can anyone recommend a good vhf anetnna that wont cost the earth and last more than 4 weeks?
__________________
two stroke mick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23 June 2012, 14:53   #2
Member
 
Chris Caton's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Wirral & Caernarfon
Boat name: That's Enuff
Make: Revenger & Avon SR4
Length: 7m +
Engine: Honda 150HP & 50HP
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 4,405
Quote:
Originally Posted by two stroke mick View Post
Can anyone recommend a good vhf anetnna that wont cost the earth and last more than 4 weeks?
have you tried the vtroniX rib raider?

Vtronix Vtronix RIB Raider Antenna - Only £54.95 - Force 4 Chandlery

I've used one for a few seasons now, been ok upto now
__________________
Chris Caton is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23 June 2012, 16:44   #3
Member
 
martini's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Channel Islands
Town: jersey
Boat name: Martini II
Make: Arctic 28/FC470
Length: 8m +
Engine: twin 225Opti/50hp 2t
MMSI: 235067688
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,030
Rib Raider ticks all your boxes - Won't cost the earth and won't last more than 4 weeks

The general consensus on here is that Chris's experience is the exception to the rule.

Don't be scared of fibreglass antennas of the 1-1.5m range, they seem to hold up surprisingly well
__________________
martini is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23 June 2012, 16:52   #4
Member
 
jambo's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Town: Girvan & Tayvallich
Boat name: Breawatch
Make: Ribcraft
Length: 5m +
Engine: Mercury 150 F/stroke
MMSI: ex directory!!
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 6,203
RIBase
Quote:
Originally Posted by martini
Rib Raider ticks all your boxes - Won't cost the earth and won't last more than 4 weeks

The general consensus on here is that Chris's experience is the exception to the rule.

Don't be scared of fibreglass antennas of the 1-1.5m range, they seem to hold up surprisingly well
Only by some people. I have had a RR for some years and never had any problems!!

Sent from my iPhone using Rib.net
__________________
jambo
'Carpe Diem'
Member of the ebay Blue RIB cover club
Member of SABS ( Scottish West Division)
jambo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23 June 2012, 17:27   #5
Member
 
Razorbill RIBs's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Wales
Town: N. Pembrokeshire
Boat name: Various
Make: RIBs & Hovercraft
Length: 9m +
Engine: Outboards
MMSI: Various
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 1,358
RIBase
Quote:
Originally Posted by martini View Post
Don't be scared of fibreglass antennas of the 1-1.5m range, they seem to hold up surprisingly well
We have Pacific aerials on the RIBs, they are New Zealand made..... The Pacific range have a standard (and robust) base which you can screw different antenna onto easily.... We use the short flexi ones (leave them on) http://www.rib.net/forum/attachment....1&d=1328895932 and because we operate in some pretty remote /poor vhf areas also carry a large 1.5m fibreglass antenna (as per Matts recommendation) which is stowed under the sponson in one of the oar clips.... But tbh rarely have cause to use it.

In fact I just bought another two for the Atlantic from Ian Sharlot on here..... I think Ian bought up some stock as the main importer stopped dealing not sure if thats correct???..... Either way, worth dropping Ian a note as his prices are good....and with Pacific there are lots of options

For what its worth, I too have broken a Vtronix
__________________
Dan Worth
www.razorbillribs.co.uk

Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php...17306504953480
Razorbill RIBs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23 June 2012, 17:27   #6
Member
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Town: Ardfern
Boat name: Moon Raker
Make: Humber Destroyer
Length: 5m +
Engine: Honda BF 90 D
MMSI: 235035994
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 694
Quote:
Originally Posted by jambo View Post
Only by some people. I have had a RR for some years and never had any problems!!

Sent from my iPhone using Rib.net
I've had two Rib Raiders in ten years, replaced the first two years ago. Boat well used.
__________________
alystra is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23 June 2012, 18:43   #7
Member
 
Country: Ireland
Town: Castlebar
Boat name: Clewless
Make: Valiant DR 490
Length: 4m +
Engine: 60 hp ETEC
MMSI: Awaitng one
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,339
RIBase
i have a fibreglass one circa 1.3 m long very good send and recieve but the plastic base has cracked. it is currently held together with insulating tape and a cable tie. i would like similar with a metal base

tsm
__________________
two stroke mick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23 June 2012, 20:19   #8
Member
 
Country: UK - Channel Islands
Town: Jersey
Boat name: Archangel
Make: Ribcraft
Length: 6m +
Engine: ETec 225
MMSI: 235063789
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,005
Quote:
Originally Posted by martini View Post
Rib Raider ticks all your boxes - Won't cost the earth and won't last more than 4 weeks

The general consensus on here is that Chris's experience is the exception to the rule.

Don't be scared of fibreglass antennas of the 1-1.5m range, they seem to hold up surprisingly well
Agreed. Go for a full length, stainless steel or fibreglass antenna; the bigger the better. And pay attention to the quality of the coax it's supplied with. My boat was supplied with a Raider antenna; it didn't survive the Channel crossing.
__________________
www.flickr.com/photos/gj0kyz
GJ0KYZ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 23 June 2012, 23:12   #9
Member
 
Peter_C's Avatar
 
Country: USA
Town: NorCal
Boat name: SHARKY
Make: AB
Length: 4m +
Engine: Honda BF75 & BF5
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,895
Dunno if this will help you or not. I went with an 8ft on my SIB. Bought a Shakespeare 5225 XP.

http://www.llelectronics.com/docs/aw...HFAntennas.pdf
__________________
Peter_C is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 June 2012, 05:31   #10
Member
 
Channel Ribs's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Channel Islands
Town: Alderney
Length: no boat
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,047
Pacific aerials are superb, Dan is correct in that there are UK supply problems at the moment though we are working on fixing that.

Also have a look at the Metz antenna, very high quality and performance.
__________________
Channel Ribs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 June 2012, 05:31   #11
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: hampshire
Length: 7m +
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 353
Glomex Stainless Steel Whip VHF Antenna Kit - Only £49.95 - Force 4 Chandlery

i've got one of these on my 6.2m and got to say it's lasted well after i replaced my fibreglass one that had cracked (again).
I took some time researching before i bought it and have been impressed with it's performance bearing in mind it's only fairly short (3db gain).
I can hear Portland when on the trailer in the middle of the New Forest (Lyndhurst) which is good enough for me. Having been a mate in the merchant navy, i've been spoilt with vhf aerials with a height of over 200ft above sea level and some serious vhf kit. Bottom line is you're only going to get a range of line of sight (unless you have some strange atmospheric anomalies going on) on big ships about 25 miles. On the rib, aerial survival is more important than range for me (i want it to work when i use it even if it isn't the ultimate in range). Even on my bigger Sunseeker i switched to these stainless steel ones as i've got fed up replacing the 2m 'ish fibreglass ones every year and for me it's made very little difference in range. Good news is it's giving good reception on the stereo as well, as i have a splitter attached in line, and the ais seems to work fine to.

(i had to buy longer cable as the one supplied with the kit was too short and the glomex adaptor to fit to the swivel bracket that was already fitted to the rib and sun seeker) it comes with 3 different types of mounting bracket which is quite handy, plus all the plugs etc. I was looking for the similar Pacific one at the time but couldn't find one, but is probably just as good on a rib)
__________________
wellhouse is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29 June 2012, 15:42   #12
Member
 
Country: Ireland
Town: Castlebar
Boat name: Clewless
Make: Valiant DR 490
Length: 4m +
Engine: 60 hp ETEC
MMSI: Awaitng one
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,339
RIBase
Obtained a pacific antenna to-day from force 4 a very well made peice of kit I would say
__________________
two stroke mick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29 June 2012, 15:49   #13
Member
 
Channel Ribs's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Channel Islands
Town: Alderney
Length: no boat
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,047
Quote:
Originally Posted by two stroke mick View Post
Obtained a pacific antenna to-day from force 4 a very well made peice of kit I would say


We have fitted and sold more than I can count, had them on our own boats too over many years. Never known one to fail!
__________________
Channel Ribs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29 June 2012, 15:58   #14
Member
 
Oscarguitar's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Poole
Boat name: Half Cut
Make: Cobra 8.6
Length: 8m +
Engine: Verado 275
MMSI: 235104619
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 381
Try the Glomex as mentioned above. My Rib is 7 years old and came with one fitted. Working brilliantly up until recently. The cable is shot and it was cheaper to get a complete new Glomex antenna and 18m cable than buy the cable alone. (I did get a bit of a deal as it was labeled incorrectly)
__________________
Oscarguitar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29 June 2012, 16:25   #15
Member
 
Erin's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Channel Islands
Town: A large rock
Boat name: La Frette
Make: Osprey Vipermax
Length: 6m +
Engine: 200 Suzzy
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 2,893
Quote:
Originally Posted by Channel Ribs

We have fitted and sold more than I can count,
If your counting of pints is anything to go by, that could be a lot
Erin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29 June 2012, 17:38   #16
Member
 
Channel Ribs's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Channel Islands
Town: Alderney
Length: no boat
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,047
Quote:
Originally Posted by Erin View Post
If your counting of pints is anything to go by, that could be a lot
Ah, yes, there is that!
__________________
Channel Ribs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29 June 2012, 17:39   #17
Member
 
Channel Ribs's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Channel Islands
Town: Alderney
Length: no boat
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,047
Quote:
Originally Posted by two stroke mick View Post
Obtained a pacific antenna to-day
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oscarguitar View Post
Try the Glomex
Does he need two?
__________________
Channel Ribs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29 June 2012, 17:47   #18
Member
 
Oscarguitar's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Poole
Boat name: Half Cut
Make: Cobra 8.6
Length: 8m +
Engine: Verado 275
MMSI: 235104619
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 381
Oops! Should have read all the thread posts.
But why not. I've got two now and it balance the look of the boat nicely.
__________________
Oscarguitar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29 June 2012, 18:16   #19
Member
 
Channel Ribs's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Channel Islands
Town: Alderney
Length: no boat
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,047
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oscarguitar View Post
Oops!

I've got two now and it balance the look of the boat nicely.


Especially if you angle them both back so they look wind swept and aerodynamic?
__________________
Channel Ribs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29 June 2012, 18:28   #20
Member
 
Pikey Dave's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: South Yorks
Boat name: Black Pig
Make: Ribcraft
Length: 5m +
Engine: DF140a
MMSI: 235111389
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,865
RIBase
Quote:
Originally Posted by Channel Ribs View Post


Especially if you angle them both back so they look wind swept and aerodynamic?
AND paint them orange...oops wrong thread, sorry
__________________
Rule#2: Never argue with an idiot. He'll drag you down to his level & then beat you with experience.
Rule#3: Tha' can't educate pork.
Rule#4:Don't feed the troll
Pikey Dave is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT. The time now is 17:31.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.