I know some that have used their lifelines with good results. I also have
at 23' fiberglass whip rather than an insulated backstay. It seems to work
as well as a backstay.

Doug, k3qt
s/v Callista

"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.
--
Eliminate "ns" for email address.

" 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?