New to the cb world needing help

Hello im new to the cb world im a not a trucker but a capt on a boat i drive allot from different ports im on the road all the time so i figured i would get into the cb world. Im currently running a cobra 29 ltd, 18' wilson coax min 8 and a 4' firestick i believe lol. I love this stuff its like a new hobby are something but any way ive been reading allot about this and the one thing that im for sure about is antennas antennas ok got that better antennas better everything im reaching out to people pretty far like ten miles plus but i wanna go farther would a amp be a good choice? are a better antenna ? I guess what im trying to ask is for someone like me what would be the absolute best set up for distance etc etc.

 

thanks for the replies everyone i just ordered a amp. Its for my personal truck i do allot of driving and this morn having this new set up i reached out to people little more then ten miles away for traffic info having this new cb saved me a thirty min delay to getting to work thanks to all the helpful truckers out there i appreciate it on my boat we use vhf now with those i can reach miles and miles im in the houston ship channel and talking to my buddies on other boats in Galveston again thanks for the info guys keep on trucking the people of this nation are counting on yall.