Metz Marine Antenna

M

Mike...

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C Dory Year
2008
C Dory Model
255 Tomcat
Does anyone here have any experience with the Metz Manta-6 Antenna?

It's a 34" stainless steel, half-wavelength antenna weighing 1/2 pound, and with an SWR of less than 1.2:1.
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mike
 
It looks like a well built antenna. That said, antennas are rated by gain in db, and the only statement about gain is: "it will outperform CONVENTIONAL 54" 3 db antennas." So one can assume it's gain is 3 db. 6' antennas have a gain of 6 db, receiving/transmitting twice the power to the radio. It appears that the Coast Guard has had a problem with fibreglass antenna breakage, and this was their selection criteria.

If you haven't had a problem with antenna breakage, select the antenna with the highest gain in the marine band. It'll give twice the performance at a lower cost.

I bought the cheapest 6 db antenna and it broke whilst laying down during trailering. My fault. Bought the cheapest one with a metal ferrule and it's been fine.

Boris
 
I have used this antenna as a mast head antenna (50 and 63 feet above the water), also on a radar arch 12 feet above the water. I also used it with a 3 foot SS base extension on the C Dory 22, because of the fact that the fiberglass 8 foot antennas, come back into the cockpit when laid down, and are subject to being broken.

However, there is just no sense of using this antenna on a Tom Cat. The Tom Cat lends itself perfectly to two 8 foot "Digital" 529 or 829 (brand) antennas, with gain of 6 dB. SWR depends on antenna design--and the Digital 529 is a far superior design, as well as considerably more gain. Again--something not to go"Cheap" on. You can break any antenna--of course the SS whips are certainly harder to break. But again, that should not be an issue with the Tom Cat.

Also check on the threads about the virtues of having two VHF radios.
Be Safe!
 
Salty has a Metz antenna and it has always worked very well. For some time I had one on a big Zodiac with a radar arch and it worked great in that application too. The nice thing too is the mast comes off so you can stow it before towing the boat.
 
Deleted -- somehow I made a duplicate post.
 
Dr. Bob, which mounts do you use that allow you to lay the antenna down?
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mike
 
I use a standard SS ratchet mount. They have a lever which you pull and that releases the tension on the bolt threads, and allows the detents to be loose, and then fold the antennas aft.

You had asked about a radar reflector--the Davis "Delux" hanging radar reflector--the economy version is almost as good, but not as durable. I keep it below. When needed, I put it on top of one of the Ham radio antennas I have installed aft on the cabin top.
 
thataway":1nu1l9ic said:
I use a standard SS ratchet mount.
Click to expand...
Thanks - I see Digital makes a couple.

thataway":1nu1l9ic said:
You had asked about a radar reflector--the Davis "Delux" hanging radar reflector--the economy version is almost as good, but not as durable.
Click to expand...
Perfect. Thanks again.
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mike
 
thataway":jda94r2w said:
I use a standard SS ratchet mount. They have a lever which you pull and that releases the tension on the bolt threads, and allows the detents to be loose, and then fold the antennas aft.
Click to expand...

I recently replaced the nylock nut on both of my mounts. I wanted to find two thin nuts and use them as jam nuts but could not find any thin enough. The nylock nuts will not last -- they loosen up internally to the point where they are no longer effective. Do you have a solution?

Warren
 
Warren,
I'll have to look, but I don't think I have nylox nuts in my mounts. A nylox should only be used one time--after that--as you say--it loosens up.
 
Warren,

My appologies, I do have Nylox nuts, but they are never adjusted--I just use the lever. Do you have to adjust the Nylox nuts? Another option if you keep a nut in the same position is one of the low strength lock tite products. I use this fairly regularly in nuts I will not be backing off on a regular basis.
 
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