The Masthead

March 2024

Parliament will have a new Garmin VHF 115 radio and a Garmin gWind transducer. Similar to a weather vane, the gWind provides true wind speed and angle, and is particularly accurate in lighter air. The data is fed to GMI 20 display in the cockpit and will help us learn how best to sail her.

Parliament’s mast is pretty skinny at the top, measuring only about 2.25 inches in diameter, and the bracket for the gWind requires a little more space as does the antenna for the radio. To fix this we fabricated an aerodynamic varnished genuine mahogany mount for the masthead, which will be removable using two screws. The antenna is a Metz Manta, used by the Coast Guard. With the antenna atop the 36’ mast the radio should be able to transmit and receive over about 15 miles.