Hi, I would like to pick the brains of some of the members here if possible.
I am currently fitting an Icom M801E to my boat, she is a 48ft steel ketch, I have a few questions if possible for the
SSB experts.
Firstly what length is the optimum length for the antenna, I am planning to mount the AT-141 just below the deck under the mast and run a cable up through the deck and make up a cable antenna running up to the top spreader running through the middle spreader.
At this point I must say the mast and spreaders are all wood.
I would fit some insulating material through the spreader where the cable would run and I was thinking of using some plastic coated wire, (although could any type/size of cable be sufficient?) and having an insulator at the top.
I can’t use a backstay insulator aerial easily as the backstay has the rest of the cables running down it for the mast head light, windex and
VHF etc.(joys of wooden masts and without any ducting, mind you they are nearly 70 years old, and I don’t suppose they had mast head light/VHF/windex then…. )
Secondly grounding the unit, I am quite keen that the unit works well, I know that the steel hull will provide me with a good ground, however I want to find the best way to connect it to it, I was planning to at both the transceiver and the tuner (two different positions about 20ft apart) to weld some stainless steel lugs/tabs to the steel frames that are riveted to the hull (they are also welded at the tuner end, (tank top))the hull plating is all welded (although the frames at the transceiver end are only riveted) should I weld the frame at this point to the hull?
Once I have the lugs/tabs coming out of the frames I was then going to bolt/clamp a copper strap from the lug to the respective units.
Would this work well, I have full workshop facilities, also what dimensions should the copper be I think I have some 1.6mm thick sheet and was thinking of cutting some strips 2” or 3” wide would that be sufficient, and the tabs I was thinking of something similar width as the copper maybe slightly thicker.
Would to be suitable or can someone suggest something better??
I live on an island without specialist shops for supplying copper strap etc. so a little improvisation is needed from time to time.
I look forward to ant suggestions from the experts on these matters or any thing else that I should avoid.
Thanks for any suggestions
Michael Allo