Does anyone happen to know the length of the backstay? I'm going out for a quote to have a SSB antenna made.
Thanks
Backstay
Re: Backstay
Have you considered using a the upper stay on the starboard side?
I just installed a SSB on Pacifica and used the starboard upper stay for the antenna isolating the wire from the antenna with a Sta-loc insulator. It was pretty easy to remove the wire and install the fitting and only took a few hours start to finish (my finance Kathy went aloft to remove and reinstall the wire and did so with ease). I selected the starboard upper stay so I could install the antenna tuner in the forward outboard locker in the starboard hull adjacent to the navigation station / electrical panel with a minimal wire run to the antenna element (upper stay). The dyna-plate and copper foil (counterpoise) were easy to install at this location as well with the dyna-plate bolted through solid glass. The bottom shelf of the locker was removed to reveal a tidy spot to attach the dyna-plate and also run copper foil fore and aft along the hull. SSB radio (head) can then be located at the Nav station or on the shelf at the settee (as we did) with short wire runs and easy access to power. Our I-com 710 and AT-130 are working great as offshore tested this last week with twice daily check ins with other cruising friends. Our signal was reported to be excellent every time "as if we were standing in the same room". Our SSB radio set up was purchased from Don at HFRadio.com and is idiot proof to install with color coded wires. This is our second SSB purchased form HF Radio and Don puts together a great package with every thing you need for a very fast and professional install. See SSB install pictures at: http://www.pdq36.blogspot.com
I just installed a SSB on Pacifica and used the starboard upper stay for the antenna isolating the wire from the antenna with a Sta-loc insulator. It was pretty easy to remove the wire and install the fitting and only took a few hours start to finish (my finance Kathy went aloft to remove and reinstall the wire and did so with ease). I selected the starboard upper stay so I could install the antenna tuner in the forward outboard locker in the starboard hull adjacent to the navigation station / electrical panel with a minimal wire run to the antenna element (upper stay). The dyna-plate and copper foil (counterpoise) were easy to install at this location as well with the dyna-plate bolted through solid glass. The bottom shelf of the locker was removed to reveal a tidy spot to attach the dyna-plate and also run copper foil fore and aft along the hull. SSB radio (head) can then be located at the Nav station or on the shelf at the settee (as we did) with short wire runs and easy access to power. Our I-com 710 and AT-130 are working great as offshore tested this last week with twice daily check ins with other cruising friends. Our signal was reported to be excellent every time "as if we were standing in the same room". Our SSB radio set up was purchased from Don at HFRadio.com and is idiot proof to install with color coded wires. This is our second SSB purchased form HF Radio and Don puts together a great package with every thing you need for a very fast and professional install. See SSB install pictures at: http://www.pdq36.blogspot.com
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amytom
- admiral
- Posts: 694
- Joined: Fri Oct 05, 2007 10:57 am
- Location: Orlando, FL S/V DogHouse PDQ32009
Re: Backstay
Freudian slip? I guess we know who holds the checkbook now. (Mine does too)PDQ-Dave wrote:(my finance Kathy went aloft to...
Re: Backstay
Ahh very true indeed. Kathy not only holds the check book but, also dishes out jobs like any good Admiral.
Re: Backstay
I saw the install photos and it is a much neater install than the backstay especially the tuner as it is much more protected than the location needed for backstay mount. I notice you mention both on your blog and in the message only one insulator. Are you leaving the entire stay below the insulator hot? I have a dynaplate existing that is the ground. If I remember correctly Kokomo used that for their ground. I was planning on using it and fishing the foil somehow at least back to the engine room (LRC). I have the identical radio setup you have. I had the radio installed and the tuner still in the box on my other boat. I stuffed it in a duffel when we abandoned ship and the crew member that started to haul it up on a rope to the deck of the tanker almost ended up down on our deck. I don't think he was expecting the weight and I'm guessing he went about 90#. BTW I checked out you video-nice!
Bob Johnson
Hull 36045
Peace
Hull 36045
Peace
Re: Backstay
The antenna tuner location is nice in that it's totally out of the way and very close to the stay. I'm using the entire lower section of the stay including the chain plate as the antenna element (the insulator is about 4' from the upper end of the stay). To me it makes sense for several reasons:
1). In practice no one is going to be touching the stay while we are transmitting on the SSB. If they do likely nothing will happen anyway (based on accidental testing of this theory on several occasions over the past few years).
2). The GTO-15 cable leading from the turner is acting as an antenna element as it is not RF shielded. So in my thinking why not connect to the intended antenna as soon as possible.
3). By choosing to include the chain plate as part of the antenna system you get the benefit of an easy connection without drilling more holes in your boat. Just simply connect the GTO-15 cable to one of the chain plate bolts behind the chain plate bolt cover that is just a few feet from the tuner.
I ran copper foil forward and aft in the chase for the bilge pump hose. You can access this space by removing the lower shelfs from your mid-ship closets on the outboard side of the starboard hull.
In practice and testing the rig works great with voice and data.
1). In practice no one is going to be touching the stay while we are transmitting on the SSB. If they do likely nothing will happen anyway (based on accidental testing of this theory on several occasions over the past few years).
2). The GTO-15 cable leading from the turner is acting as an antenna element as it is not RF shielded. So in my thinking why not connect to the intended antenna as soon as possible.
3). By choosing to include the chain plate as part of the antenna system you get the benefit of an easy connection without drilling more holes in your boat. Just simply connect the GTO-15 cable to one of the chain plate bolts behind the chain plate bolt cover that is just a few feet from the tuner.
I ran copper foil forward and aft in the chase for the bilge pump hose. You can access this space by removing the lower shelfs from your mid-ship closets on the outboard side of the starboard hull.
In practice and testing the rig works great with voice and data.