TACO Grand Slam 860 Electric VHF Antenna Mount

The TACO Grand Slam 860 Electric VHF Antenna Mount is TACO Marine's premium electric VHF antenna mount in the Grand Slam family - the push-button-from-the-helm antenna mount that lets you electrically raise and lower your VHF antenna without manually handling the antenna at the cabin top. For boats that frequently need overhead clearance (low bridges, covered slips, garage doors, marina canopies), the electric mount eliminates one of the most awkward routine boat operations.

Why electric VHF antenna mounts matter. Most quality marine VHF antennas are 8 feet long - the standard length for offshore-grade fixed-mount antenna performance. At 8 feet of antenna plus the typical 9-10 foot cabin top height on a center console with hardtop, the total overhead clearance with antenna deployed is 17-18 feet - exceeds most highway bridges (typical 13-14 ft clearance), most covered slips (typical 13-15 ft), most garage doors (typical 7-9 ft on residential, 12-14 ft on commercial), and many marina canopy structures. Routine boat operations frequently require the antenna to be lowered. Manual lowering at the cabin top is awkward (climbing or reaching up to access the antenna base), slow (typically 2-3 minutes per cycle), and creates fatigue/wear at the antenna base mount from repeated bend cycles. Electric mounts eliminate all three problems: press a button at the helm, the antenna lowers in 15-20 seconds, ready to fit under any clearance.

Where the GS-860 fits in the TACO lineup. TACO Marine makes several VHF antenna mounts: manual fixed mounts (cheapest, antenna stays up always), manual fold-down mounts (lower the antenna by hand at the cabin top), and electric mounts like the GS-860 (motorized, helm-controlled). Within the electric lineup, TACO makes the GS-850 (entry-tier electric) and the GS-860 (this product - higher-tier with hidden-wire routing and no under-mount clearance requirement) plus the GS-950/GS-960 (heavier-duty units for larger antennas and offshore applications). The GS-860 is the right choice for typical recreational fishing boats with hardtops where you want electric VHF antenna control with clean installation aesthetic.

Standard 1-inch-14 thread male shaft. The output shaft of the GS-860 is the industry-standard 1-inch-14 thread male connector - the threading standard that virtually all quality marine VHF antennas use for base attachment. This means the GS-860 works with VHF antennas from essentially any major brand: Shakespeare, Digital, Glomex, GAM, and others. Antenna length compatibility is up to 8 feet (the typical maximum for offshore-grade VHF antennas) - longer antennas would require heavier-duty mount hardware. For most installations, a quality 8-foot VHF antenna paired with the GS-860 delivers the right combination of antenna performance and electric convenience.

No under-mount clearance required - the key install advantage. The mount mechanism sits entirely at and above the top surface - no internal mechanism intrudes below the top into the cockpit area below. This matters significantly because: (1) Many hardtops have headliner panels, lights, electronics, or other equipment installed on the underside that would conflict with traditional mount mechanisms requiring under-mount clearance. (2) Owners with low-clearance hardtops (where there's not much vertical space between the top and any underside hardware) couldn't install traditional mounts but can install the GS-860. (3) Cleaner installation aesthetic - no visible mechanism hanging below the top. The trade-off: the mount mechanism is taller above the top than traditional under-clearance designs, but for most installations this is irrelevant since you'd have an 8-foot antenna sticking up regardless.

Hidden wire routing. The wire connection from the GS-860 to your boat's 12V system routes inside the hardtop structure - no exposed wire running across the top surface or down through a visible hole. The mount base has the wire exit point designed to route directly into the hardtop interior, hidden from view. For installations on hardtops with hollow interiors or finished underside panels, the wire run is invisible from above and below. For installations on solid hardtops (rare but exists), some wire-routing fabrication may be needed to maintain the hidden appearance. The clean installation aesthetic matters for serious sportfishing boats where the helm electronics integration is part of the boat's overall quality presentation.

Machined and anodized aluminum construction. The mount body is precision-machined from aluminum block (not cast) for tight tolerances and consistent operation. Light brushed finish anodizing provides corrosion protection for saltwater service and the modern subtle aesthetic that matches current-generation sportfishing boat construction. Compared to chrome-plated metal mounts (heavier, more reflective, eventually pit and corrode) and polished stainless steel mounts (premium look but show every spot), the anodized aluminum is the modern correct choice for most installations. Expected service life: 10+ years in normal use.

Threaded shaft mechanism. The lift/descent mechanism uses a threaded shaft driven by the electric motor - the antenna rises and falls at a consistent speed regardless of antenna load, wind force, or boat motion. This is meaningfully better than cable-pull or linkage-based mechanisms that can stall under load or operate inconsistently. The threaded shaft is also inherently self-locking: when the motor stops, the threaded shaft holds the antenna in position without needing a separate locking mechanism - the antenna stays exactly where commanded.

Brass bearings throughout. Brass is used for the bearings on the threaded shaft and other rotating contact surfaces. Brass advantages over steel bearings: significantly better corrosion resistance in marine service (steel rusts, brass forms a protective patina that resists further corrosion), self-lubricating contact (brass works well against the threaded steel shaft without external lubrication for years), and quieter operation. The brass bearings are the reason the GS-860 maintains smooth operation across multiple seasons of saltwater use where cheaper mounts with steel bearings start binding within 1-2 years.

Breakaway pin manual operation. The mount includes a breakaway pin that engages the threaded shaft for manual operation if the electric system fails. Critical safety feature - if the motor dies, the battery is dead, or the wiring breaks while you're approaching a low bridge with the antenna up, you can manually lower the antenna by accessing the breakaway pin at the mount and turning the shaft by hand. Without this feature, an electric mount failure would leave you stranded with an up antenna unable to clear the bridge - the GS-860's breakaway pin prevents this scenario.

Electrical install. 6 inches of 20-gauge wire pre-installed at the base, extending into the hardtop interior. Wire to your boat's 12V system using marine-grade wire with appropriate connectors. Required: 3 amp fuse in the main +12V power feed (not included - source standard automotive or marine 3A blade fuse). 12V DC nominal operation. Current draw is modest - the motor draws under 3 amps during lift/descent (which is why the 3A fuse is sufficient), zero amps when not actively moving.

Required accessories sold separately. Two important accessories that aren't bundled with the GS-860: (1) Backing Plate BP-0850AEY - structural reinforcement under the hardtop where the mount bolts through. The mount applies significant load to the hardtop surface during operation - proper backing plate distributes the load and prevents the mount from tearing through thin fiberglass hardtops over time. Strongly recommended. (2) 6-Degree Wedge Plate WP-850-950 - if your hardtop surface isn't level (most hardtops have some forward or aft slope from the boat's overall styling), the wedge plate tilts the mount base so the antenna sits truly vertical when deployed. Optional but typically needed for production-boat hardtop installations.

What's NOT included. The VHF antenna itself (you provide this separately - any 1-14 thread VHF antenna up to 8 feet works). The required 3A fuse and fuse holder. Wire extending beyond the included 6 inches of lead. Marine sealant for the mount base installation. The backing plate and wedge plate accessories noted above. Marine VHF coaxial cable to connect from the antenna base to the VHF radio (typical 25-50 ft of marine RG-8X coax with PL-259 connectors).

Made in the USA. TACO manufactures the GS-860 at their Florida facility. US manufacturing means tighter quality control than offshore-manufactured competitors and US-based service support for warranty handling. The Made in USA designation also matters to many boat builders and buyers who prefer to source US-made components.

Warranty. 1-year limited TACO Marine warranty. Register with TACO at purchase for warranty activation. TACO has well-established US-based warranty service through their dealer network. Failures are uncommon - the Grand Slam electric mount line has good field reliability across multiple model years.