[TowerTalk] Sailboat & Mast Antenna?

[K2EK at aol.com]

I have been given a 19' Lightning Sail boat.

The hull is sound but it will need considerable
attention before it is seaworthy.

The mast is a tall metal construction

A very good friend of mine (WB4CPZ, now SK)  used  a commercial all band Icom 
with auto tuner to cover marine and ham frequencies from both a smallish sail 
boat and later a second hand trawler he used as a scuba dive boat running 
from Tarpon Springs  to the Totugas.  He was pretty pleased with the 40m 
performance to keep in touch with locals regarding various weather issues and simply 
keeping in touch with the world on his jaunts.  

Worst case, if the mast does not play, run a sloping wire to the top and dump 
a weighted counterpoise ground wire over the side.  Its tough to beat a nice 
slt water ground system!

Bill
K2EK.