Len,
I'm considering what you suggest for the counterpoise; not sure about the
whip.
Problem w/ connecting to bimini frame is the only fasteners I think I can
get to are exposed (no headliner) in the cabins, not close to where wire or
foil could be brought out.. Wire might not look too bad, but foil would be
hard to camoflage. But form after function!
Garland
"Len Krauss" wrote in message
...
Garland,
Seems to me that it's something you can try without much fussing to see if
it works for you. No need to make a permanent installation until you
verify.
Not sure that foil is needed for the connection. If it is, on the
permanent
install you should be able to lead foil to the underside through-bolts of
one of the framework's deck mounting platess.
Len

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Eliminate "ns" for email address.
"Garland Gray II" wrote in message
news:EUpAb.37601$_h.31297@lakeread02...
Len,
I do have an aluminum bimini frame so perhaps that is something to
consider.
I might have trouble connecting to it w/ foil though.
Thanks.
Garland

"Len Krauss" wrote in message
...
A friend with 42' cat uses the aluminum hard bimini framework as
counterpoise and a whip antenna (I think 23') mounted on inner sloped
F/G
section alongside transom step (under handrail). Says it works better
than
the insul backstay antenna and extensive foil strips he had on
previous
40'
cat. If you have such a framework, you might give it a try before
laying
foil. I don't think antenna type makes a difference.
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" I'm about to install the SSB ground system in my catamaran. Since I
don't
have a lead keel, and my water tank is well above the w/l, seems I
might
be
needing to lay down a lot of copper strips in the bilge.
The operators manual suggested that a 3" strip separated 3" from an
adjacent
3" strip would be equivalent to a 9" strip. Is this the maximum
separation
to achieve this phenomonem? If the strips could be 2 feet apart, and
still
be effective as a 2+ foot wide strip, that would save a lot of time
and
materials. Probably too good to be true though. But if it did wow,
maybe
I
could lay strips in both hulls, connected together at each end, and
have
a
monster ground plane.
Since this probably wouldn't work, what is the most efficient way to
make
the ground system in a catamaran?