I have purchased probably 20 or more V Tronix ariels in the last five years. The product is supposed to be the best ariel for ribs but encountered problems with them breaking at the base although they had a "shock spring" half way along the stem.
V Tronix have now rectified this with a new base and ariel and should now be obtainable from them.
A good company, they are replacing my faulty ariels with the new modified ones so I will have to see how they stand up to a commercial application.
Give them a try !!
We have a similar V Tronix aerial to Islander - the plain version without the coiled bit in the middle. Seems very robust, and very clear reception. They are quite light so no great heavy thing swaying around on the A-frame. Have had the fibreglass pole type thing on another boat but that was slowly self-destructing (and it wasn't a RIB).
My last aerial was the same as Richards, the V Tronix without the spring. The whip snapped about 2inchs from the bottom after about 6 months use. I now have the V Tronix with the spring.
I have to say reception with the sprung aerial is noticeable worse than the plain vanilla one. I think I’m going to get another normal one and keep the sprung whip as backup - you can very easily swap whips and coils without rerunning cables which is very handy!
I have an old fibreglass antenea 2m long mounted to the top of my A frame, so far has given impecable service. Although it does move sometimes but I think a couple of spring washers will cure the problem. It has given a good range certainly onto the horizon from main port.
Just purchased an antenna today, but what I was looking for was a base loaded stainless whip. The theory that there wouldn't be too much weight above the loaded part of the antenna to give much in the way of a snapping prob. Will have to look out for that whippy stainless part when wave hopping though
Andy
PS: Ridgid raider aerials seem popular, though at £45 their not cheap.
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Andy
Looks Slow but is Fast
Member of the ebay Blue RIB cover club.
- no, it was during a fairly sunny day in the solent last year.
