On 10 Aug 2006 06:37:09 -0700, "Skip Gundlach"
wrote:

Do I remember properly that you're on coax to that antenna? If so,
you've lost a major portion of your signal.

Yes, but it is low loss LMR400 and relatively short compared to going
up a sailboat mast, about 20 feet total, approx 2 db loss.

The problem with the higher gain antenna will be its correspondingly
flatter donut, and every wave will make the painted part of the
geography shift.

Yes, that's why I'm going to carry around the old 9 db antenna for a
while. We do not usually roll that much at anchor however assuming we
are in a protected location, and I think the 15 may work out OK. It
makes a very noticable difference here at the dock.

One way to avoid virtually all coax loss is to get a weather proof
amplifier and mount it just below the antenna. Here is a nice one
that includes a coax power injector:

http://pnt.zoovy.com/c=PLP0FzdVNH6Ga...oduct/24A1000E

or

http://tinyurl.com/mus3a