SSB counterpoise for a catamaran

[Garland Gray II]

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?

 

[Peter Kennedy]

I did it recently using roofing copper. I bought a 2 ft wide piece about 6
ft long and stuck it down in what was normally an inaccessible part of the
bilge using 5200 for adhesive. I used the 2" wide strip also to connect
from the receiver to the tuner and join to the copper sheet along the way.


Peter Kennedy Yacht Services
Marine Electrical Systems
http://www.pkys.com

 

[Garland Gray II]

Doug,
I've just started looking at this newsgroup, and had seen your mentioning
this in an older thread. Knowing you had a keelboat, I assumed you had also
tied in to your keel, but since not, maybe that is all I will need to do.

Before I start, I want to have a clear plan of what/where to add if I find
I need to.

Thanks for the info.

Garland

 

[Garland Gray II]

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

 

[Garland Gray II]

Peter,
Reading that 100 sq ft were recommended gave me pause; apparently not that
much is always necessary, but my bilge is broken up by numerous bulkheads or
ribs, which makes this difficult.
Thanks.
Garland

 

[Dennis Gibbons]

Doug
My Nic 35 has internal ballast also. I drilled into the lead and tapped a
bronze rod into it and attached the foil to that. great counterpoise

 

[Garland Gray II]

Len,
I'm considering what you suggest for the counterpoise; not sure about the
whip.
Problem w/ connecting to bimini frame is the only fasteners I think I can
get to are exposed (no headliner) in the cabins, not close to where wire or
foil could be brought out.. Wire might not look too bad, but foil would be
hard to camoflage. But form after function!
Garland