I understand the issues, but not how to figure them out -- less surface
area, higher resistance material -- I'd guess it would increase the
impedance, but that's not even a sophisticated wild ass guess.

How about just painting the copper? I would guess you've got one or two
things to do with your time more important than redesigning an antenna for
better appearance.

Have you considered putting an arch back there -- two tubes up, over, and
down? Good for this, GPS, VHF emergency antenna, SSB emergency antenna,
maybe radar (ours was on a pole at one end of the arch), Inmarsat C, etc.
etc. etc. Could also anchor the bimini.

As for the utility of the photos, sometimes they're helpful, but often
not -- for example, today the photo doesn't show anything interesting, but
the isobars are so close we've got 50 knot gusts forecast in Mass Bay.

--
Jim Woodward
www.mvFintry.com


..


Jim Woodward wrote:
We had a QH for weather satellites on Swee****er and I might do the
same on Fintry -- as a practical matter it's a fun toy, but you need
other weather information as well.

I like to put the picture beside the current surface analysis to get a
feel for what is happening. A sequence of 3 or 4 passes really shows
the movement of a weather system.

Why not just use copper -- the conductivity of stainless is only 2%
of copper, so there are surely some issues there?

Mainly for apearance. The QFH will mount on the stern rail at eye
level. My copper versions are hard copper tube and elbows. Soft copper
is to soft to stand up to a careless hand or a boarding wave. The
stainless tube looks less like a plumber's nightmare and will not turn
green.

The resistance of the stainless tube is the thing that worries me. The
balun design I came up with balances 1/2" copper tube to 50 ohms almost
perfectly but changing the diameter to 3/8" stainless is going to change
the impedance. I just don't know how much and in which direction.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com