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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

antenna location

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zig zag
Deckhand

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16 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/14/2003 : 22:29:34

Just bought a C250WK in Colorado. Hauled to my home in Alaska where I'm in the process of outfitting it. Any ideas on mounting locations for a VHF antenna. Also any suggestions on cabin heaters and mounting locations.

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Bryan Beamer
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1038 Posts

Response Posted - 04/14/2003 : 23:06:54

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote> Any ideas on mounting locations for a VHF antenna<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

Mine is mounted on the top of the mast.

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Also any suggestions on cabin heaters and mounting locations. <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

We use 2 portable 1500-watt electric space heaters. They are real quiet and small.

Were in Colorado did you buy the boat? Is it new or used?

Bryan Beamer
<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3df05b3127cce93a99ec449080000001010" border=0>
Daylight Again
C250wk #495

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Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2003 : 00:09:32

L braket on the side of the mast head. The higher you mount it the better the range.Heaters for Alaska. I take it you mean away from shore. Force 10 makes propane or diesel heaters (Not cheap) but they work great. Dickenson also makes heaters, propane, diesel, or solid fuel. Using a small electric fan to circulate the heat also works nice. http://www.dickinsonmarine.com/shop/categories-heaters.asp
http://www.force10.com/heaters/index.html

Doug&Ruth
Triska (Alberg 29)
Tacoma Wa.

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zig zag
Deckhand

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16 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2003 : 00:28:48

Its a 98 from near Lyons Co. I think it spent most of its sailing life in Granby Lake. Its not very well set up for our climate.
I was hoping for a antenna location other than the top of the mast. I know preformance wise the top would be the best.
I'm looking at a Force 10 cozy cabin heater but I'm not sure where to put it. Once the boat goes in the water we'll be in remote areas with no power.

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Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3324 Posts

Response Posted - 04/15/2003 : 00:36:10

Z-Z - suggest you put the antenna on the masthead - you will need maximum range and this is the only position that will give you it! If you also have a windex then you will need an extension tube for either the windex or the antenna.
Derek

<img src="http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3dc30b3127cce942c608d6f1e0000001010" border=0>
TRFK#2262"This Side Up"

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Tom Coleman
Deckhand

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USA
19 Posts

Response Posted - 04/16/2003 : 20:39:58

If you don't want to use the masthead, the aft seat rails work fine. I have not had any reception problems, although the furthest distance out has probably been in the 15 mile range. As for the heater, I sail frequently in the winter on the Great Salt Lake in less than toasty temps. I use a small (approx. 8000 BTU) butane heater. I like to be able to move it around at times and the disposable butane cartridges are reasonably cheap and trouble free. Enjoy your new boat.

Tom Coleman
"Kalya" C250wb #568
Great Salt Lake

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zig zag
Deckhand

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16 Posts

Response Posted - 04/16/2003 : 23:14:08

Thanks for the info. Guess I'm going to mount on the mast top. Will definitely be more of a pain in the butt to install, however range is imporant. I'm going with a force 10 propane heater. Trying to figure out where to put this stuff when there is no real good place is a challenge.

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jsummerfield
1st Mate

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USA
96 Posts

Response Posted - 04/19/2003 : 18:05:07

Marine VHF Radio Antennas
The mast top is a good location. The following includes more ideas lifted from the web - not much of my own knowledge. However, you may find it as a useful start for sorting out the facts.

The gain of an antenna is related to its directivity and the shape of the radiation pattern. The marine antenna is not precisely omni-directional. Vertical antennas are directional but not in the horizontal plane.

One antenna selected is four-foot in length. Applying arithmetic suggests that this is a 5/8th wavelength antenna. The wavelength range of 156-158 MHz is 1.9 to 1.92 meters.

Consider two antennas to include a quarter wavelength antenna emergency antenna. This is a simple antenna with a highest radiation angle and low gain. Dividing 1.91 meter wavelength by 4 results in a length of 0.4777 meter or 18.8-inch. The properties of a 5/8-wavelength antenna include a lower angle of radiation and the highest gain at sea level.

The companies that sell antennas designed the antennas for the applications. Consider the 5/8-wavelength for the mast top. I installed a much longer eight-foot antenna mounted next to the cockpit in my former sailboat. The four-foot (5/8-wavelength) antenna has advantages over a longer antenna that would more likely be damaged than the shorter antenna and would perform well.

A vertical antenna requires a good ground system. The antenna is mounted on a fiberglass boat. This is not the ideal ground. When VHF antennas are installed on a tower, radials are extended outward and a bit downward to provide a ground plane. I think that the 5/8 wave length antenna on the boat is OK. The ground could probably be improved by running a copper strip under the boat with a ground conductor fastened to the mounting bracket. This could affect the propagation distance but should not affect the standing wave ratio.

Good luck in Alaska

John

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