Boat light-pole - ideas?

[spartacus]

Anyone know of a stainless-steel light-pole (preferably LED) that I can also add a Metz VHF antenna too? Boat is garaged, so maximum height is 8', however up-and-over garage door will restrict this too, so light-pole either has to fold or drop. I know Perko make an adjustable light-pole, but not sure it's rigid enough for what I have in mind. Light-pole will be transom mounted, etc.

Metz antenna is currently on grab-rail above wind-shield, but reception isn't great.

Any help appreciated.

[treerat]

Originally Posted by spartacus

Anyone know of a stainless-steel light-pole (preferably LED) that I can also add a Metz VHF antenna too? Boat is garaged, so maximum height is 8', however up-and-over garage door will restrict this too, so light-pole either has to fold or drop. I know Perko make an adjustable light-pole, but not sure it's rigid enough for what I have in mind. Light-pole will be transom mounted, etc.

Metz antenna is currently on grab-rail above wind-shield, but reception isn't great.

Any help appreciated.

I made me own from a B+Q ariel mount.

Worked atreat

[whisper]

Try Biffer on here, I've seen his work and it is excellent! a light pole shouldn't be a problem

[whisper]

Also look at Scorpion Ribs for some ideas:

Scorpion Strike 9.0 metre - OTS Range | Scorpion RIBs UK

[Hightower]

RIBshop made mine

These are the best shots I can find at the moment, if you'd like some better ones I can take some this wekend and post.

[Cookee]

I may be wrong but I wouldn't have thought moving the antenna would improve the performance by much.

[biffer]

Can make a light pole with quick release stainless antenna bracket. Make it any length you like. Bolt it to the transom. Fold it up and down in a second

sent from a remote device

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by Cookee

I may be wrong but I wouldn't have thought moving the antenna would improve the performance by much.

It's the height that matters for radio horizon so moving it from the console to the mast would increase that height by a foot or two but I doubt the performance difference would be earth shattering.

The only thing that might help is if a plotter or other equipment is splattering noise, the stern might be an electrically quieter place. Or, being next to a HV ignition system, it might not.

Nothing like a clear answer

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by Cookee

I may be wrong but I wouldn't have thought moving the antenna would improve the performance by much.

It would/could improve range slightly but a nice bit of height for the Nav lights is always a good Idea

[chewy]

I have an ex-MOD light pole that might do, it lock together and can be removed from the transom easily, its about 7 or 8 foot I think.

[spartacus]

Thanks for all the replies.

Couple of additional pictures so you can see where the antenna is currently located. Just measured, so the console is 48" from the deck to the top of stainless steel grab-rail. The Metz antenna measures 36" in height. It's never given great performance, and I'd expect more traffic when scanning channels. Moving it from the grab-rail (in front of the console) helped, but I'm still not convinced. I thought there might even be disruption because the ICOM receiver is relatively close. I also re-soldered the antenna connections and have checked continuity with a multimeter, so is 100%. The ICOM M411 unit was also new this year.

Looking at the transom, there's probably only one place the light pole can go, which is to the right of the transom support leg. I measured here and reckon I have about 35" of clearance, which is about the same height as the engine cowl, before the garage up-and-over door catches it.

So couple of options, either a detachable light pole, or hinged so it can fold forward. In terms of a suitable height, 6' or so?

[kerny]

I must compliment you spartacus on how clean you keep your rib. On pic two I can't see a dirty streak anywhere on the white transom

Nice boat and I like the way it's fitted out

[EnglishLes]

Originally Posted by kerny

I must compliment you spartacus on how clean you keep your rib. On pic two I can't see a dirty streak anywhere on the white transom

Never heard of Photoshop? - Not that I'm trying to imply that Spartacus doesn't have a nice clean boat.

[spartacus]

Originally Posted by kerny

I must compliment you spartacus on how clean you keep your rib. On pic two I can't see a dirty streak anywhere on the white transom

Nice boat and I like the way it's fitted out

I probably spend a good couple of hours cleaning the boat after a fishing trip. Normally the drainwell resembles the chump box from Orca!

Cheers kerny.

[Courageous]

".......... resembles the chump box from Orca!" Reminds me of my ex wife

[Hightower]

Hi Richard, a little late but the pictures I promised.

1...Mast light

2..Shows the Elephants trunk deployment line and a cleat/fishing rod rest

3..LED Stainless Nav light

4..An internal shot of how the whole lot is mounted.

[spartacus]

Cheers Andy... now that is quality.

[jyasaki]

You could mount it next to the rear-most backrest. Have someone fab up a folding or double folding pole with lights and antenna attached. If you use something like a Shakespeare antenna mount, you could accordion the whole thing to get it in the garage.

jky

[CoachRib]

XS did this for me on my new 530, detachable

[CoachRib]

Another pic, must be possible to put an antenna on top too.