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MADE ON EACH PIECE.  HAM STATIONS ON BOATS THE ARTICLE BOATS ON THE AIR
INAUGURAL ACTIVATION ON SAN FRANCISCO BAY IN THE SEPTEMBER 2022 ISSUE OF
QST WAS INTERESTING, BUT I WISH TO COMMENT ON THE NATURAL QUALITIES OF A
SAILBOAT AS A HAM RADIO PLATFORM.  I HAVE HAD HAM RADIO STATIONS SET UP ON
FOUR OF MY SAILBOATS.  MY FIRST BOAT WITH A HAM STATION WAS A C C 24 WITH A
25 W, 10 METER RADIOSHACK HTX 10 TRANSCEIVER.  ON MY C C 27, C C 29, AND
HUNTER 37R5 LEGEND, I USED AN ICOM IC 706.  A TYPICAL, MODERN 40 FOOT SLOOP
RIG, SUCH AS THE BOAT PICTURED ON THE COVER OF THE SEPTEMBER 2022 ISSUE,
HAS A MAST APPROXIMATELY 60 FEET ABOVE THE WATER, AND THE STAINLESS STEEL
FORESTAY AND BACKSTAY ARE APPROXIMATELY EQUAL LENGTH.  THE BOAT HAS A LEAD
OR IRON KEEL EXTENDING ABOUT 5 FEET BELOW THE WATER.  THOUGH THE KEEL IS
PAINTED, THE PAINT USUALLY CONTAINS COPPER TO REPEL MARINE GROWTH.  THE
MAST IS ALMOST ALWAYS GROUNDED TO THE KEEL VIA A KEEL BOLT AND A SHORT RUN
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