{"product_id":"shakespeare-5250-ais-skinny-mini-3-ais-antenna-167-5250ais","title":"Shakespeare 5250-AIS Skinny Mini 3 ft AIS Antenna","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eShakespeare 5250-AIS Skinny Mini\u003c\/strong\u003e is a compact, dedicated AIS antenna engineered to meet the broader bandwidth requirements of AIS transceivers — requirements that standard VHF antennas are not optimised to handle. Its chrome-plated brass canister maintains consistent tuning across the AIS frequency range, avoiding the de-tuning that can occur with plastic-canister antennas. At 3 ft with a 36\" stainless steel whip, it fits easily on vessels where a full-size 8 ft AIS antenna isn’t practical.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDedicated AIS bandwidth\u003c\/strong\u003e — tuned specifically for AIS frequencies (161.975 MHz and 162.025 MHz), not a repurposed VHF antenna\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eChrome-plated brass canister\u003c\/strong\u003e — minimises de-tuning across the AIS band; more stable than plastic-canister alternatives\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSealed, tin-plated copper wire coil\u003c\/strong\u003e — corrosion-resistant internal construction for long-term reliability in marine environments\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e36\" stainless steel whip\u003c\/strong\u003e — durable, corrosion-resistant radiating element\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e3 dB gain\u003c\/strong\u003e — omnidirectional pattern with moderate gain suitable for coastal and offshore AIS reception\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCompact 3 ft profile\u003c\/strong\u003e — fits arches, hardtops, and mast locations where a full-size antenna won’t clear\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIncludes:\u003c\/strong\u003e PL-259 connector and 16 ft RG-58 coax cable — ready to connect directly to most AIS transceivers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eAIS Antenna vs. Standard VHF Antenna\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAIS operates on two dedicated channels at the upper end of the marine VHF band and requires an antenna with sufficient bandwidth to cover both channels simultaneously. A standard VHF antenna tuned for the mid-band (Channel 16) may perform adequately, but a dedicated AIS antenna like the 5250-AIS is optimised for the AIS frequency range and will typically deliver better reception — particularly important for picking up weaker targets at distance. If sharing a single antenna between a VHF radio and an AIS transceiver, a splitter is required; see the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/8252890546212\"\u003eShakespeare 5257-S VHF Antenna Splitter\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eShakespeare AIS Antenna Lineup\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/8131640295460\"\u003eShakespeare Galaxy 4 ft 3dB AIS Antenna\u003c\/a\u003e — 4 ft version with ratchet-style base\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/8252890808356\"\u003eShakespeare Phase III 4 ft AIS\/VHF Antenna with Ratchet Mount\u003c\/a\u003e — dual AIS\/VHF use with ratchet mount\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/11131369619492\"\u003eShakespeare 5225XT-AIS 8 ft Galaxy AIS Antenna\u003c\/a\u003e — full-size 8 ft antenna for maximum AIS range\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/8252889595940\"\u003eShakespeare 396-1AIS Dedicated AIS Receive Antenna\u003c\/a\u003e — receive-only AIS antenna\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCompatible AIS Transceivers\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/8191227494436\"\u003eRaymarine AIS700 Class B SO-TDMA AIS Transceiver\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/8175739895844\"\u003eem-trak X100 Fixed Mount VHF\/DSC Radio with AIS Class B\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/11131370078244\"\u003eGarmin VHF 215 AIS Fixed-Mount Marine Radio\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eRelated Accessories\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/8252890546212\"\u003eShakespeare 5257-S VHF Antenna Splitter\u003c\/a\u003e — share one antenna between a VHF radio and AIS transceiver\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eParts Desk Insights\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBest use case:\u003c\/strong\u003e The 5250-AIS Skinny Mini is the right choice when you need a dedicated AIS antenna but have limited mounting space — particularly on center consoles, smaller cruisers, and sailboats where a full 8 ft antenna isn’t practical. The compact 3 ft profile fits most arch and hardtop locations without clearance issues. For vessels where maximum AIS reception range is the priority and space allows, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/11131369619492\"\u003e5225XT-AIS 8 ft Galaxy\u003c\/a\u003e will outperform the Skinny Mini at distance. If you’re planning to share your existing VHF antenna with an AIS transceiver rather than running a dedicated antenna, the \u003ca href=\"\/products\/8252890546212\"\u003eShakespeare 5257-S splitter\u003c\/a\u003e is the cleaner solution — though a dedicated antenna will always deliver better AIS performance than a shared one. The included 16 ft RG-58 cable and PL-259 connector are sufficient for most arch-to-transceiver runs without an extension.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"LNS","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51232997539876,"sku":"167-5250AIS","price":153.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0743\/5799\/7604\/files\/167-5250AIS.jpg?v=1786151939","url":"https:\/\/marisolmarine.com\/products\/shakespeare-5250-ais-skinny-mini-3-ais-antenna-167-5250ais","provider":"Marisol Marine Company","version":"1.0","type":"link"}