[Elecraft] K3 working on motorboats - possible

[Kurt Pawlikowski]

Peter,

     In general, any vertical works lots better with more radials. As 
fresh water is a fairly poor conductor, the more the merrier! 
Unfortunately, because most boats are wooden/fiberglass, what you can 
add helps. I don't know if they have to be 1/4 wavelength (I've read yes 
and some say at least 0.20 wavelength). For HF, this would be some 
serious lengths for most boats! I expect you'd have to load them similar 
to the vertical element, but I haven't read anything regarding loading 
radials: It's just a guess. I suppose one could attempt to replicate, to 
some extent, a solid ground plane with foil or some other conductor 
(maybe chicken wire?). It would seem a lot of work (and probably is!). 
If you're insistent on a vertical, it's a narrow field of variability. 
Some of the portable antenna's can make loaded dipoles or verticals, 
which would operate fairly well without a ground plane. Another option 
might be a magnetic loop (which doesn't care much about "ground" per se. 
It is affected by near-by conductors, tunes very narrowly, and is big 
(compared to a mobile vertical). So, whatever you choose, it's all some 
sort of compromise.

     kurtt WB9FMC

On 6/8/2020 3:47 PM, Peter Kaletsch wrote:
> Hello fellows;
>
> You are my last hope as I cannot imagine that I am the only one in the world who wants to try that.
>
> For many months I have been trying in vain to get tips on how to operate a K3 well on a small 13 meter motor yacht. I am talking about fresh water usage (Lake Garda in Italy), not salt water, and of a GFK built boat.
>
> A dipole is eliminated, it is not a sailing boat. I thought of using a Tarheel Antenna, but the manufacturer advised me against it.
>
> So normal, shortened mobile antennas, mounted on the device carrier, where also the antenna for marine radio is located, should point the way ...?
>
> But how do I get a reasonably effective earth? I read a lot of negative things about ground plates - fast growth, the hull has to be pierced.
>
> I have already considered laying radials from the antenna base below deck in the invisible area, but will this work...?
>
> I am very grateful for every tip and every help - also to pkaletsch at kaletsch-gmbh.de
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> Peter - DL1MDZ
>
>
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