"Chuck Tribolet" wrote in message
...
Sounds like an 8' 6dB VHF antenna to me.

We're talking about a BIG bolt that goes through the pedestal and into the
bottom of the
antenna? Standard size is 1" diameter, 14 threads per inch.

That sounds like a good guess, too. My guess was based a little on the
coax termination method........... from OP:
"The coax has the outter shield stripped back and the center conductor is
terminated in a ring connector"
Haven't seen many marine VHF antennas that used anything except some
sort of UHF or N connector arrangement.
Old Chief Lynn