I found it easier to insulate the part of the shroud (backstay in my
case) from ground. Sometimes the shrouds are part of the
bonding system. That way the feedline can be fastened right
to the stay without any spacers.

For the counterpoise, just run foil from the radio and tuner to either
a metal thruhull or keel bolts or both if possible. I have been
using a thruhull for years with great results. Just installed a
large Dynaplate for no other reason than to make the installation
cleaner. My installation to a thruhull requires me to remove the
connection now and then, clean everything and reinstall it.

Doug
s/v Callista

"Jerry Peters" wrote in message
...
I have been researching SSB installation issues and am left with a couple
of
questions.

First, antenna installation. I intent to use a long wire through a tuner
to
operate on HF. I intend to use an insulated shroud (I have a cat with no
backstay) with a short feed from the tuner. I have always believed that
the
feed wire should be seaparated from the rigging before it reaches the
connection point to reduce capacitive reactance. I have accomplished this
in the past with 2" spacers holding the wire off of the shroud until it
reached the connection point. Recently, I read a credible opinion that
separation of an inch or two is irrelevant at high frequencies because to
eliminate all capacitive reactance the seaparation would have to be
meters.
The capacitive reactance that does exist can be accomodated with the
tuner.
If this is true I would prefer to directly attach a long insulated wire to
the shroud - perhaps tape it over a 25 foot length. It would be out of
the
way, safe from rf burn risk and would not require the installation of
rigging isolators which introduce mechanical weakness and expense.

My second set of questions relate to ground plane/counterpoise
installation
but I'll hold of on those quetions for the moment.

Thanks for your help.