Shakespeare Antennas Ratchet Antenna Mounts
Shakespeare Ratchet Antenna Mounts: Built for the Marine Environment
When it comes to keeping your VHF, AIS, or GPS antenna positioned safely and securely aboard your vessel, the mount matters just as much as the antenna itself. Shakespeare Antennas — a brand with over a century of marine communications expertise — brings that same engineering discipline to its lineup of ratchet antenna mounts, offering boaters a practical, durable solution for deck and side antenna installations.
Choosing the right antenna mount is equally as important as selecting the right antenna to ensure reliable communications and avoid damage to either the antenna or vessel. Shakespeare's ratchet mounts are specifically designed to solve one of the most common on-water challenges: the need to quickly lower or reposition an antenna when passing under a bridge, entering a covered slip, or heading into rough weather.
Versatile 4-Way Ratchet Design
The hallmark of Shakespeare's ratchet mount lineup is its versatile multi-position ratchet action. The Style 4186 Ratchet Mount features a versatile four-way ratchet design that adapts easily to vertical or horizontal surfaces, slanted or straight. This adaptability makes it one of the most flexible mounting solutions available, regardless of your boat's deck geometry.
For boaters who need a more refined experience, Shakespeare's stainless steel offerings raise the bar. The 6187 is made to the same high specifications as all Shakespeare mounts, with electro-polished 316 stainless steel for long-lasting strength in all conditions. Its clever single ratchet handle allows users to lower and twist the mount in one simple maneuver, moving the antenna through a full hemisphere of points to its required location without the need for additional tools, time, or support. The 6187 is also reduced in size, offering a sleeker and more aesthetically pleasing appearance than comparable options.
Standard and Heavy-Duty Options
Shakespeare's ratchet mount range covers a spectrum of needs. The Style 4187 is a stainless steel ratchet mount featuring a versatile four-way design that adapts easily to deck or side mounting on slanted or level surfaces, while the Style 4187-HD is an extra heavy-duty, stainless steel ratchet mount with that same four-way adaptability. The 4187-HD is a heavy-duty marine mount made of stainless steel for durability and strength. A quick-action handle makes operation quick and easy, and the versatile 4-way ratchet design can be bolted to vertical, horizontal, or tilted surfaces.
Shakespeare also offers nylon ratchet mount options for boaters who prefer a lightweight, corrosion-proof alternative. The Quick Connect Nylon Ratchet Mount allows for easy removal of an antenna without the hassle of re-installing cables. With a versatile four-way ratchet design for deck or side mounting, it also features a splash protection cap to protect the connector when the antenna is disconnected, and the high-quality connection ensures no noise is generated due to vibrations.
Thoughtful Details That Make a Difference
Many Shakespeare mounts include a special cable slot that eliminates removal of most factory-installed connectors — a small but genuinely useful feature that saves time during installation and antenna swaps. Shakespeare's milestones include the development of low-angle radiation techniques for marine antennas, as well as the introduction of fiberglass radomes, hand-soldered connections, brass and copper elements, and metal ferrules — and that same attention to craft carries over into their mounting hardware.
Whether you're fitting out a new vessel or upgrading aging hardware, Shakespeare's ratchet antenna mounts deliver a proven combination of material quality, installation flexibility, and long-term marine durability that has made Shakespeare the dominant force worldwide in marine antennas and a trusted name at docks and marinas around the globe.