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(Roger) wrote in
om:

Larry

Thanks for the informative message. Your suggestion on feeding the
backstay from both chainplates is interesting. Unfortunately I have a
hydraulic backstay tensioner on one leg and a backstay radar mount on
the other. Sooo I guess my alternatives a

running the wire from the tuner along one leg of the split backstay
(with stand-offs) to an insulated backstay

going with a 23 ft whip

BTY - I have already used up one chance on the MMSI code. I registered
by VHF radio with Boat US prior to getting the SSB (thus now needing
an FCC license). The FCC requires an new MMSI code.

Putting a good-quality insulator designed for the strain near the top of a
shroud is every bit as good as the backstay antenna IF there are no OTHER
shrouds running right next to it. There would be more mast loading effects
because the mast is much closer to the shrouds than the backstay, but
everything here is a compromise.

"Lionheart's" main backstay is a crank-operated tensioner, a big screw
affair at the bottom of the stay you put a winch handle in to change it.
I'm feeding the tuner in right at the top of this device, which keeps the
device from being part of the antenna length up to the top. Fed as low in
the impedance path as it is, it doesn't change the tuning appreciably.
Getting that main boom topping lift changed from stainless cable to nylon
line was the BIG improvement up towards the high impedance end.

I know it would be a pain-in-the-ass and against all "boat instinct"
because you'd have to go out and TUNE the coil, but that Henry Allen
bugcatcher coil in the middle of a 23' long whip with no "tuner" at the
base, would just whip the pants off an automatic or manual tuner on a
simpleton 23' wire whip on signal strength at the receiver. You only need
to tune the antenna when you change BANDS, not move a few channels in the
same band (like going from Channel 602 to 608 on the 6 Mhz band). Once you
found the "sweet spot" for the coil tap for each band, you can change
frequency bands in 15 seconds and have a commanding signal if your
grounding system is any good.... If I had to have a "whip", I'd have a
stainless steel base section about 6 feet long, a Henry Allen 6" diameter
coil and a top section made of a 102" stainless steel CB whip. That'll
resonate way down into 2 Mhz with great signals....once you tuned it. Mine
does....(c;

Simply spraying WD-40 on the coil would keep it from corroding. Mine does.

Larry W4CSC
S/V "Lionheart"
WDB6254 366920680

PS - Wait until you have to cancel one FCC license for the OLD
boat....yecch!