=  NOW 20 WPM  =  TEXT IS FROM JANUARY 2023  QST  PAGE 58  =

OF HEAVY COPPER WIRE.  THE MAST IS VERTICAL AND THE STAYS ARE OFFSET AT A
SLOPE, BUT NEARLY VERTICAL AS WELL.  THE KEEL IS GENERALLY A FIN THAT
EXTENDS VERTICALLY BELOW THE WATER.  ON THE HORIZONTAL PLANE, THE BOAT
TYPICALLY HAS A STAINLESS STEEL BOW RAIL AND STERN RAIL WITH TWO HORIZONTAL
BARS SUPPORTED BY VERTICAL BARS.  EACH OF THESE HORIZONTAL RAILS HAS
STAINLESS STEEL LIFELINES ATTACHED, WHICH CONNECT THE BOW RAIL AND THE
STERN RAIL.  THIS MAKES TWO COMPLETE LOOPS AROUND THE ENTIRE BOAT AT ABOUT
100 FEET EACH.  THE RAILS MAY OR MAY NOT BE GROUNDED TO THE KEEL, BUT THEY
CAN BE IF DESIRED.  IF THE BACKSTAY IS INSULATED FROM THE MAST, IT PROVIDES
A NATURAL 60 FOOT, NEARLY VERTICAL SLOPED ANTENNA.  THESE INSULATED
BACKSTAYS ARE TYPICALLY USED AS HF ANTENNAS FOR MARINE HF RADIO SYSTEMS.
=  END OF 20 WPM TEXT  =  QST DE W1AW  <