This location on the roof of a hardtop can also result in high stresses on the mounting surface and the antenna base, especially when using an 8-foot-long fiberglass VHF antenna, one of the most ...

Bigger boats can also accommodate taller antennas. Mounting antennas as high as possible—such as on the hardtop—has the same effect in boosting VHF range. Measured in decibels, ­antenna gain ...

Weak VHF output and poor receiving are normal indicators that it’s too late. Collars for mounts and bolts/hardware need a quick once-over to avoid an antenna falling from ... the outside are helpful ...