2nd antenna mast - mid cabin?

[BobCT]

I can't believe I've owned the boat six months (most of it on the hard) and just noticed something odd today.

On each side of the radar arch, there's a mast antenna. I'm not sure what the second antenna is for. I have a VHF which is probably the long fiberglass mast on my starboard side.

On the port side is another antenna, fiberglass base with a thin threaded metal whip. It's not as tall as the VHF, maybe 4-5' when not folded down.

I have no idea what it's for! The radio antenna is behind the port side rub strip on the mid cabin. The only other electronics I have are a radar dome and the GPS antenna on the radar arch.

[gardnersf]

My guess is an old Loran. Loran antennas are usually bare fiberglass. The PO may have removed the head unit and left the antenna. There was no GPS when these boats were new.

I removed my loran antenna last year and installed a second radio.

[gardnersf]

Hmm, just reread the post. Metal whip antenna may be FM or cb????

[prowlersfish]

Could also be a VHF some 3db units are like that , see if the is a name and number on it

[robertBrown3232]

My guess would be for the AM - Fm radio

[Jersdevil]

I have a short 3 foot metal whip antenna for my VHF. what kind of connector is on the end of it?

[BobCT]

Scott,

I made two discoveries in the past week:

1) The AM/FM antenna is buried between the hull and locker as you walk down the stairs. If you remove the the storage compartment next to the port side helm seat you can see it. It runs parallel to the deck... kind of a weird location.


2) The windshield washer pump within a few feet of the helm steering pump. To the right and up. I noticed it when I removed my VHF.



Bob

[Stripermann2]

That metal antenna could have been a differential beacon antenna. (for GPS)

Before today's GPS/Chart plotters and the government unlocking the ability to be more precise with GPS, you needed a DGPS beacon antenna for more than the standard accuracy. Mine stiil has one on the flybridge top...of course with my updated system, I no longer use it.

Or, it could be just a regular FM/CB antenna someone installed at some point. You know, to balance out the boat so it wouldn't lean to starboard.

[Jersdevil]

Lean to Starboard

[gardnersf]

You have a windshield wash pump? Does it look original?

I'll have to check that out.

Weird place for the antenna. Good to know as I want to wire a dock for my XM receiver.

I still have the original AM\FM radio installed. There is an after market one as well. The original is vintage 80's

The surveyor even noted it as "Groovy " ont eh report

[Jersdevil]

I have an AM/FM 8 Track that came with my boat.

[BobCT]

continuity to see which one is my VHF, neither has any markings left.

Scott, if you have washer nozzles on the deck in front of the windshield then I would guess your pump is located there too. It's a tiny little motor with white/flex plumbing hose connecting on one side and clear hose on the other. Mine does look original. When I pulled the little access panel in the cabin/ceiling I noticed clear silicone slathered onto the metal "pipes" that go up to the nozzles. I'm guessing they leaked at some point. Someone here suggested re-bedding the nozzles because they leak too.

I'll bet they're all bad from lack of use and not getting winterized. I might pull mine over the weekend.

I had the original Alpine as well but it hardly worked. I replaced it with a marine "Fusion" unit which has ipod and Sat radio connections built in. I ordered a wired remote which I have mounted up at the helm but not connected yet.