Collection: Antennas

Choosing the right marine antenna depends on what signal you need to send or receive and where on the boat it will mount. VHF communication antennas from Shakespeare and Digital Antenna are the core of most installs, and gain matters here: a 3dB antenna on a 4-foot stick suits sailboats and smaller powerboats where a low profile helps, while a 6dB antenna on an 8-foot mast delivers longer range for open-water cruising. AIS antennas, including Shakespeare's Squatty Body and low-profile stainless whip options, are purpose-built for vessels running AIS transponders, and some can be shared with a VHF radio using a splitter. Digital Antenna also covers cellular connectivity with 4G/5G LTE MIMO antennas for onboard routers, plus dual-band cellular options for boosters. Boss Audio rounds out the category with compact AM/FM rubber antennas for stereo systems.

Before buying, confirm the connector type and cable length for your run, especially with Digital Antenna's pre-cabled models. Check whether your mount is compatible: Shakespeare's QuickConnect series requires a matching QCM mount, while standard thread-base antennas fit most universal mounts. For sailboats, masthead clearance and wind resistance make the Squatty Body or Scout's compact 7-inch fiberglass unit worth considering over a full 8-foot whip. Material matters too, since stainless whips handle low-clearance docks better than fiberglass where flex is less forgiving.