Fin-shaped antenna unveiled
A revolutionary new antenna range has been unveiled at this year’s Seawork.
The Shakespeare 5912 DORSAL antenna has a unique dorsal fin-shaped design making it robust and reducing the chance of snagging.
Sales manager, Dave Manasseh explained more about the idea behind the design. “People get on and off their boats and grab hold of their antenna,” he said. “This is much smaller and can’t be snapped.
“There isn’t another one in the world like it,” he added.
With a range of up to ten miles when trialled by Smart Fishing on one of its vessels, there are three models – VHS, AIS and AM/FM – suitable for smaller leisure craft, fishing vessels and tender boats.
Around six companies across Europe have shown interest in the antenna and there have been 100 pre-orders placed before its official launch. There has even been interest from superyacht charters who hope to use the antenna to track jet skis.
The design was not without its challenges. “Technically it was difficult to get a workable antenna into something so short,” said Dave Manasseh.
The original plan was to take an existing RIB antenna, bending it to fit inside a fin shape but the resulting design proved far too big for any benefit with poor performance to boot. So the company looked to the automotive industry, borrowing their style of fin with some tweaks to materials and fitments to make the design suitable for marine use.
Distributed by SMG, the antennae are tested to IK08 rating, measure 100mm by 60mm by 65mm and are fully water-sealed and marinized. They can be colour coded to match any boat design and are supplied with an 8 metre cable and plug.
