Shakespeare 36in VHF Antenna with Whip 3DB.

Shakespeare Style 5241-R and Style 5242-A VHF Marine Band Antennas

Models:

• Style 5241-R: 3 ft Low-profile End-fed VHF Antenna with Heavy Duty Whip

• Style 5242-A: 3 ft Low-profile End-fed VHF Antenna with Standard Duty Whip

Product Description

Both the Shakespeare Style 5241-R and 5242-A antennas are compact, low-profile, end-fed 1/2-wave VHF marine antennas tailor-made for bass boats, center console fishing boats, and similar vessels where size and lightweight construction are prioritized. The 5241-R model includes a heavy-duty, 36-inch stainless steel whip for superior stability at high speeds and comes with a 15-foot RG-58 coaxial cable terminated with a PL-259 connector (not installed). It requires a mount with a center hole to pass the cable and supports user replacement of the whip. The antenna features a chrome-plated brass canister that minimizes de-tuning, coupled with a sealed tin-plated copper wire coil for enhanced durability.

The Style 5242-A represents a legacy design reintroduced on customer demand, featuring a convenient press-and-twist bayonet fitting for quick whip removal and replacement. It has a 36-inch stainless steel whip with user-replaceable capabilities and includes an L-shaped mounting bracket. Unlike the robust 5241-R, this model uses a standard duty whip. Both antennas provide 3 dB gain with a max input power of 50 watts, vertical polarization, and 50 Ohm impedance. They have a nominal SWR of 1.5:1 at 156.8 MHz across a 7 MHz bandwidth, and neither offers DC grounding (open continuity reading). Both models carry a 2-year limited warranty.

Key Features

• 3 ft, low-profile, end-fed 1/2-wave VHF antennas

• 36-inch stainless steel whip (heavy duty for 5241-R, standard duty for 5242-A)

• Chrome-plated brass canister for stable tuning and durability

• Style 5241-R includes 15 ft RG-58 coax cable (connector not installed)

• Style 5242-A includes L-shaped mounting bracket and press-and-twist bayonet fitting for quick whip removal

• User-replaceable whip capability

• Antenna gain of 3 dB, max input power 50 W

• Bandwidth: 7 MHz within 2.0:1 VSWR

• Vertical polarization, 50 Ohms impedance

• No DC grounding (open continuity)

• Suitable for bass boats, center console fishing boats, and similar small to medium vessels

• 2-year limited warranty

Comparison Table

What’s in the Box

• Style 5241-R: Antenna, 15 ft RG-58 coax cable (PL-259 connector not installed)

• Style 5242-A: Antenna, L-shaped mounting bracket