John -

While the listed antenna are all sub-optimal on the lower bands the
difference in performance is marked if they are loaded reasonably well.

I doubt that the requirements of off shore racers should in any way
influence what cruiser do. Cruisers simply don't lose rigs. That is a more
due to the propensity of the racer to go all out even to the risk of the
rig. Every rational cruiser avoids stressing his rig...it just makes life
to difficult.

Note that jury rigged antennas or carrying some spare gizmo still provide
lots of opportunity for a cruiser to get out when needed even after an
unexpected disaster. .

It has been my experience that emergency use of the SSB is reasonably common
but that the cause is generally not a severely damaged boat. Mostly its
stuff like getting something to work or dealing with a medical problem.
Even on occassion have seen starters rebuilt at sea with expert advice from
a ham net.

Jim Donohue KO6MH amateur extra
"John Proctor" wrote in message
news:2005032704261916807%lost@nowhereorg...
On 2005-03-27 00:46:39 +1100, Larry W4CSC said:

John Proctor wrote in
news:2005032617173316807%lost@nowhereorg:

Larry, I expected better from a licensed amateur. After all we amateurs
have been proving things that shouldn't work do for a long time. In the
end I guess you will be judged by your utterences. So keep the mouth
flapping.

--
Regards,
John Proctor VK3JP, VKV6789
S/V Chagall



The point is, national pride aside, the Outbacker is still a bunch of
hookup wire wrapped around a fiberglass rod with taps imbedded into the
shrink tubing that covers the hookup wire.

Continuously loaded antennas are very inefficient and produce far less E
field than antennas without continuous loading.

The shorter ANY antenna is less than 1/4 wavelength, the less and less it
radiates.....simple fact.....

Thats true. However the discussion has been about a collection of
suboptimal antennas. Too short for lower SSB spectrum use.

Backstays, 23' whips and outbacker's are all too short for efficient use
on low HF. The original question asked was what is the best approach. Best
in this case (marine HF) must absolutely include survivability as a marine
SSB HF rig is predominantly a saftey item. A backstay or any other rigging
based structure as I pointed out is inherently risky and therefore
unacceptable to bodies such as ocean racing organisations.

The screwdriver and antennas of similar design are effective in the land
mobile service downunder. The number of 4WD vehicles with Codans on and in
them proves that but again they are totally unsuited to the marine
envirnment. Codan doesn't even try to make a marinised adjustable antenna
that I know of.

BTW if you want to see inefficient antennas look to the Hams that do 160M
mobile. There is a hiding to nowhere as far as efficiency is concerned but
they are a hardy band of operators!

--
Regards,
John Proctor VK3JP, VKV6789
S/V Chagall