"Bob" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 16 Aug 2005 13:47:27 -0400, Larry wrote:

( Mika) wrote in :

Need to install a new VHF antenna to a sailboat.

Put a 1/2 wave antenna as high as you can get it. 2000 meters is great!
but the top of the tallest mast will do just fine.

When you're screaming for help in a sinking boat, you can never have an
antenna that's too high! The altitude of the mast antenna more than makes
up for the length of the cabling losses. With a 25W Icom and 1/2
wavelength Metz whip at 55 ft on the other end of 30 meters of RG-58/U
coax, Lionheart can call the US Coast Guard station way out of sight of
land.


but never, never, never ever use rg 58 cable. it's not shielded
properly. it has high loss.

Many Marine VHF antennas have the cable moulded in and it's RG-58 so the
argument between RG-58 and RG-8 is purley acedemic.
Unlike the radio Ham, where every last inch of tx distance is a feather in
the cap and one up on the next person, on a boat it's just a tool, boating
is the hobby.