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Len Krauss
 
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Default SSB counterpoise for a catamaran

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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"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?