We took an eight foot rigid 6db Shakespeare VHF antenna around the world
with no problems. Swee****er's masthead is 82' up, so while she perhaps
doesn't roll as sharply as a smaller boat with a 50' mast, there's a longer
lever.

Fintry's masthead is 36' off the water and she'll have three rigid VHF
antennas up there (she has two now).

Today I would choose Digital Antenna, Comrod, or (Bruce in Alaska's
recommendation), Morad, but don't worry about the antenna, even a
Shakespeare.


--
Jim Woodward
www.mvFintry.com


..
"Steve" wrote in message
...
I have the same situation with my base loaded Shakespear VHF wipe.. It has
never caused problems with the wind instrument but it's only a matter of
time and the right (wrong) sea state.

I considered the possibility of a ridgid fiberglass antenna, even before I
stepped the mast. But then I considered the G forces that a ridgid antenna
would be subjected to. I wouldn't even attempt to figure all of this out,
but I can only imagine (having spent 5 min at the top of another boats 50
ft
mast in a moderate sea, in my younger days. ).

Maybe a rigid antenna is up to these forces. I don't know..

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Thanks Jim,

Unless your tell me otherwise, I would still have reservation about the
constant flex of those sheetmetal 90 deg. mounting brackets that come with
both types of antennas.

In the end, I went with the base loaded wipe and the supplied mount bracket,
because I have a fixed span bridge that is very close to my mast height.. I
figure if the antenna hits, it would spring right back or the bracket would
bend over without any major damage. Yah! I know! I shouldn't cut it that
close and I don't, but there is always the possibility I miss calculated and
the 30" antenna would be the first to make contact.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions

Sorry, I wasn't completely clear....

I agree completely about the sheet metal brackets. I fabbed a 1/4" aluminum
plate for the top of Swee****er's mast that held the wind instruments,
Windex, lights, and antenna -- so the antenna base, which had a 1"-14 female
thread, was bolted through the plate with a piece of threaded rod and a nut
(I couldn't find a stainless 1"-14 bolt). No appreciable flex there....




--
Jim Woodward
www.mvFintry.com


..

"Steve" wrote in message
...
Thanks Jim,

Unless your tell me otherwise, I would still have reservation about the
constant flex of those sheetmetal 90 deg. mounting brackets that come with
both types of antennas.

In the end, I went with the base loaded wipe and the supplied mount
bracket,
because I have a fixed span bridge that is very close to my mast height..
I
figure if the antenna hits, it would spring right back or the bracket
would
bend over without any major damage. Yah! I know! I shouldn't cut it that
close and I don't, but there is always the possibility I miss calculated
and
the 30" antenna would be the first to make contact.

Steve
s/v Good Intentions