[Boatanchors] Kinda off topic

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

On Fri, Oct 30, 2009 at 3:53 PM, Jim Wilhite <w5jo at brightok.net> wrote:

> Use just enough weight to keep the wire relatively taught, that is all
> you need.  In my youth windows used iron weights as a counterbalance to
> help with raising the window.  You could buy the weights at hardware
> stores and they were heavy enough to hold an antenna up, or use a gallon
> bucket and add rocks or whatever until it keeps your antenna up.

I kick myself everytime I remember passing up a bunch of those window
weights. They were long and slender, so they'd hang close in to the
tree and not get hung up on anything when the wind blew due to their
shape.

In most situations I know of today, folks just use buckets as Jim
mentioned. You can add or subtract rocks, sand, whatever for weight.
The trick is to keep it from filling with water or ice during storms
and becoming too heavy. A hole in the bottom would help as long as
you're not using sand as weight.

I'm soon to attempt the same thing here for 80 and 160, still need to
grab a few good pulleys and figure out the weight angle myself.

~ Todd,  KA1KAQ/4