Howdy Ray:
Most likely it's a half wave, and as such it should be vertical for omni radiation.
The way it is now, you should have your radiation lobes coming off the beams of the boat,
which means that your transmission, and reception is directed to the left and right, making
the antenna bi-directional, with no, or little power directed toward the bow and stern.
If it is vertical, the power will be radiated equally in all directions

--
SeeYaa Harbin Osteen KG6URO

!sdohtem noitpyrcne devorppa-tnemnrevog troppus I

"ray lunder" wrote in message ...
Is it better to have it at the top of the mast pointing straight up?
It's angled back horizontally under the present arrangement. The proud
vessel is a full 23', the mast top is a little over 30' high, I think.
Thank you.