Batboard

Im doing an installation on a fireboat. Installing a lowband 46mhz radio, VHF 156mhz radio and a UHF 460mhz radio. I've found marine antennas for the VHF and UHF but I cant find a marine antenna for lowband. So I'm thinking on just using a mobile antenna, but its a fiberglass boat. No groundplane? Anyone have any ideas?

Maybe if you can get a ground to the water???? that may function for your ground plane???? just a F(&ing theory...

I have no Idea, back in the US of Navy ground was never a problem....


>>>Hardwire<<<

Not too many fiberglass flat tops. I'm just sayin, you know ....

Fireguy - Yeah, you're kinda in unknown territory. There are ground-planeless CB antennas for composite body trucks that work pretty well, but I haven't seen one for lowband. You may have to McGuiver something from a CB antenna and a matching stub.

Grab a 1/4-wave long brass rod and solder/braze it to the bottom of the antenna mount. Also, fill the NMO mount with silicone grease and pray.

there are a few no ground plane low band antennas out there. may not be made anymore. I have an Antenna Specialist one and will look for the par number

I am not sure how large you fireboat is but Kreco makes Coaxial and folded dipole antennas for low band.
http://www.krecoantennas.com/index.htm
I have used the for base stations.