You really need a few items to make it work well most of the time. One or two differnt radios and one or two different antennas, 8db as a min and I wouldn't go much above 12 db. We have the RadioLabs RV antenna and an Alpha with an 8 db Omni, 9db Omni, and 12 db Directional. I don't secure my antennas permanently as it always seems that a boat anchors in betweent the access point and us and I need to raise it or lower it. So I tie it on with a line to the boom, or sissy bars, or dodger or whatever. It's always fun out here.

Go Slow
Sail Far
Stay long