Getting very high swr

your antenna sounds like it is shorted, check to make sure insulators are correctly placed, take the antenna off the mount, use a ohm meter make sure there is not a short checking the center pin of the connector to the shell , then check end to end.

 

I have to ask the obvious, because you did ask how to use swr meter, but you did measure swr correctly ? , you are not reading rf power output by mistake? Not implying that you are clueless it would be a easy thing to do.

 

I'm puzzled on why he needs a tri-magnet mount with a 4 foot fire stick?

 

You would not, single would be fine

 

Maybe he should try the Workman PM 5 mag mount that he was originally planning on using and see what the swr is.

 

No point in buggin about it now..

 

If he decides to upgrade later he'll already have an adequate mount.

Or maybe he's just a 'belt and suspenders' kinda guy

 

Well it may be the antenna itself, but the reason why I ask is maybe the mag mount is part of that problem.

 

Start with the simple things. Just because your coax looks okay doesn't mean it is okay.Test it.
try another antenna. Move the mag mount to another location. If you have a friend who has a set up similar to yours. Swap things around. process of elimination.