On Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:42:32 -0500, Geoff Schultz
wrote:

I'm posting this for a friend from the forum on www.FreedomYachts.org. I
know that there are a lot of good radio people here and not many on that
forum.

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I have one of these catketches, no shrouds and an overhanging mizzen boom.
In the next two years, I need to install an SSB transceiver antenna. I have
two stainless adjustable backstays with block and tackle at the bottom.
Normally, in their idle mode, they are athwart ships of the mizzen. When in
use, The luff backstay tackle is set on the luff transom corner and
tensioned. I know some people use this backstay as an antenna.

What I want to know is if someone has experience with positioning the balun
at the TOP of the backstay and feeding the coax cable from the top of the
mast down to below decks. Normally, the balun is at the bottom end of the
antenna and the coax is fed in from there. This is not possible (or at
least practical) with a backstay that is moved around at the bottom end. As
far as my limited knowledge goes, the coax has to be included in
calculating the required antenna length.


Baluns are almost never used in a marine SSB installation. Their
primary use is for center fed horizontal dipole antennas which is
quite uncommon on boats.

Your friends best bet for an unstayed rig is to install a 23 ft whip
on the stern and feed it with an antenna coupler working against a
good ground system.