RF signal on backstay antenna.

[Kevin Kaldenbach]

What kind if pattern does the RF signal on a backstay put out. Is it like a dipole and the lobe is doughnut shape? If so then lobe facing the boat must bury it self into the water. Also if that is the case would turning the boat around to have the stern face the direction you want to xmit help? I know of very few people at the marina with sailboats who can xmit on their SSB’s in the slip but my trawler with a horizontal dipole does a great job.

[bottomscraper]

I think the bottom line is without extensive (probably impossible) modeling you will really never know. The radiation pattern will depend on the actual frequency and all the other conductors (mast, stays, railing ...) on your particular boat. I have found that on Mahalo SSB & some PSK31 communication on 10 meters (28 Mhz), 20 meters (14 Mhz) and 40 meters (7 Mhz) has worked rather well with a backstay antenna. I haven't had much luck with 80 meters and below. I only have ham no marine ssb.