VHF radio & aerial on a rescue rib

I don't think having the aerial within peoples reach is an
issue, my local scout group has an XS Rib with a built in
VHF, and the aerial is right on the console, a few inches
from the wheel. No one has ever been hurt by it.

Edited by Mister Nick

Originally posted by didlydon We're getting a nice new Icom & also a Vtronix raider aerial suitable for a rib.

Hmmm.....salt-water proof microphone?

The one we have on our rib cost about £50 for the ariel but is sooo good it beats others, I'll try and find a link

As long as you transmit on the same power as a handheld there will be no problem with the antenna. You can hold the antenna on a handheld so why is it different with a fixed unit.

Why are you going for a fixed unit in a rib? If you on the sea it is not so easy to wah the salt off.

As far as ariel positioning goes to improve the signal go as high as possible. Just been on a flotilla holiday where the lead crew always used a handheld for mooring. If you were any distance away you could not hear them but you could hear the other yacht used a fixed unit and mast head ariel.

Hi All. I've been tasked with fitting a fixed radio & aerial to our rescue rib. (Previously we've just used a handheld.) We're getting a nice new Icom & also a Vtronix raider aerial suitable for a rib. I planned to fit the aerial somewhere to the front of the console, but on doing a bit of research on tinterweb, it's not recomended fitting it where people can touch it as you can get burns from it if transmitting at the same time!  Is this seriously a problem? Where is your club boats aerial fitted? If need be I'll have to fit it on a mast on the transom, but I can't seem to find something suitable on all the chandlery sites i've checked out so far.... Recomendations please chaps.........