JAD wrote:

Yup Rodney, we sailors, for the most part, have masthead antennas, which
definitely trump most other designs with both transmit and RECEIVE
performance. I guess it might be part of my "problem." Altitude is
everything in VHF performance.

Right! So the solution could be two antennae, a gain antenna on the mast
for emergencies and a 1/4 wave on the deck for local chats. I might look
at that since I'm going to install a ham rig anyway and have some
switches in my junk box.
73, K3DWW