Avon make (or used to make) an alloy light-pole for Seariders, but would fit other RIBs. Pretty robust piece of kit. Must be a good 8' tall with sections. Also integrated navigation lights and all-round white light. You can fit a VHF antenna to this.
Either that - or get something made bespoke in 316 stainless steel. I did it and fitted a Metz antenna.
Not sure how well you can see it in these pics. S/Steel Broom handle + zip ties! The Zip ties have now been upgraded to P shaped s/s clips screwed into the seat back.
Avon make (or used to make) an alloy light-pole for Seariders, but would fit other RIBs. Pretty robust piece of kit. Must be a good 8' tall with sections. Also integrated navigation lights and all-round white light. You can fit a VHF antenna to this.
Either that - or get something made bespoke in 316 stainless steel. I did it and fitted a Metz antenna.
That looks perfect! I love the fact it has a TV aerial as well just in case I need to watch TV while on the water!
I have searched to buy but can't find it - any ideas?
Custom made item is the way to go! How does this sound:-
So first two pics are the aerial and fixing bracket.
To this I can add a 316 S/S tube of any length that will then fold down so am now thinking better to fix to the transom which to be honest is where it should be.
Top end of this tube I then fancy the nav light option as well - same as Spartacus picture (Thanks again!)
Tube length - am going to think about this when I am in front of the boat and how it will fold down.
Custom made item is the way to go! How does this sound:-
So first two pics are the aerial and fixing bracket.
To this I can add a 316 S/S tube of any length that will then fold down so am now thinking better to fix to the transom which to be honest is where it should be.
I don't think the adjustable hinge will be up to the job in my opinion. The transom takes quite a hammering with engine vibration, sea condition and speed. Add in 7' of stainless steel tubing and you now have a few kg of weight with the Achilles heel unfortunately the hinge at the weakest point.
Quote:
Top end of this tube I then fancy the nav light option as well - same as Spartacus picture (Thanks again!)
I have red and green navigation lights on the console. What's here is an all round white light. Actually it's an anchor light from Salty John, but upgraded LED.
Quote:
Tube length - am going to think about this when I am in front of the boat and how it will fold down.
You want height, so suspect 6-7' is realistic. I went for three sections secured with Protex latches. If I was doing it again, I'd over-engineer and go for latches on both sides. This is the company that made it for me. http://www.marinefabrications.co.uk
VHF antenna height is important for decent range, especially if relying on a lower power hand held transceiver:
RANGE (nautical miles) = 2.08 x √ANTENNA HEIGHT (metres)
On my Honwave SIB, I use two mini Quick Fist clamps screwed to the transom which hold either just the Pacific Aerials Seamaster Pro 1m antenna connected via a modified rail mount base fitted on a rod, or this can be slotted into a multi-part folding awning pole for greater height and hence distance if required especially in the case of an emergency. When not in use, the folded awning pole sits in the side tube fuel line Velcro straps.
The fist clamps are also handy as a fishing rod holder when not using the aerial.
I fitted three of these through the transom in vertical line and a 1"x 1.5m stainless pole with a metz connected with a salty johns adapter. The pole fits tightly but is removeable so that it all goes in the garage. Seems to work a treat.
However.....if the VHF you are communicating with has an aerial at the same height as your's (and it probably will have) you can double that range.
Sorry, my bad as they say. You're right, I should have added: Perform the calculation for BOTH vessels and then add the results for the
total theoretical range between them
Luckily, if putting out a Mayday call then the chances are the shore-based Coastguard antennae will be mounted up high - I gather for example that a lot of them along the Firth of Forth are piggybacked onto mobile phone masts.
However that can pose a problem as if they're atop a cliff and you are close to shore, then you may be in the 'shadow' as it were, since VHF depends on line-of-sight.
Not sure how this affects a DSC transmission, hopefully that would get through where a voice connection might not?
As I fish from my rib having my Ariel fixed to my centre console means I have clear acces around the boat.
As for range, mine isn't fixed to any poles or such and is just a 1.8m Ariel fixed using one of the many plastic brackets on the market. I fish sea mounts 50km offshore and still have contact with land due to the land bases are all high mounted on headlands.
With the repeaters up and down the coast I can talk to Sydney over 350km away.
Will decide when I am at the boat - either console or transom I will be using the folding bracket (which has arrived and looks very strong piece of kit) and a carbon fibre tube.
Am going to buy a 2.5m length and cut to length to suit when I get to the boat. Will probably add a further "C" clip (needs to be easy to undo) to allow fold down.
Carbon should look good and less weighty than 316 S/S.
The parts have all arrived so here are some pics - shows what I am planning and all pretty obvious I think.
Fixing to inside face of transom so it can fold into boat along deck next to the console/seats for transport. White stand off clamp to secure when vertical!
Only thing to add is that I am not relying on grub screws to hold the carbon tube - I have a hardwood dowel that will fit in the tube so I can use s/s screws. (the dowel will have hole drilled through to take the cable - screws will therefore not go all the way through!)
November
Sula
S/Steel Broom handle + zip ties! The Zip ties have now been upgraded to P shaped s/s clips screwed into the seat back.
spy-sea-one
