I believe that the ARRL patterns show the whip to be an unambiguously
better low-angle radiator than the backstay.

This might explain why I have had such good luck with a whip compared to
the backstay antenna I had on my previous boat.

But that's not all! The versatility of the backstay antenna at other
frequencies and the attendant complication of a tuner could be compared to
the simplicity of the whip, its physical independence from the mast, and
its lack of need for a tuner.

How do you get away without a tuner?

Doug
s/v Callista