Another SSB question. ( sorry :) )

[chuckr]

My option is ... forget SSB. Safety wise, a satphone gets hold of an actual person, whereas an SSB might or might not. SSB in very limited use in Atlantic, and decreasing, because of the aforementioned cost. We had an SSB on one transit, called up a few people, they talked about fishing, someone else talked about what had broken, and all of them miles and miles away. Irrelevant. Mainly, you are essentially ON YOUR OWN in the ocean, just have to get used t it. SSB doesn't change that. It's fine. It's almost always almost invariably fine. You can rig your satphone to send/rcv emails if you fancy a natter.

as above the cost on the ssb is the initial cost -- but we use ours for weather updates, send emails when at sea to family on our positon and condition, update shiptrak as to our position when underway, cruiser nets in the carib and now hopefully in the med, and some entertainment --

 

[tawhiri]

A whip antenna would work well for the 5, 10 and 20 meter bands

 

[tri39]

And I suspect you could make your own by wrapping approx 33ft of wire around the longest fishing rod blank or similar you can find.
I'm going to try anyway, to compare with my backstay, whose insulators you can easily fit yourself. Just one at the top may be enough.
A very healthy battery is also essential, at least I have to run the engine to transmit. Altho I now have a Varta 180Ah downstairs to go to AB.

 

[the lloyds]

we fitted insulated backstay at total cost of about 750 for two isolators and the labour [HYS], took no time at all, mast stayed up, works a treat,When we later had new wire for rerig we were able to use the isolators again. I do not know about GAM, whip ariels of 7 m very successful, but there is an aesthetic issue!

Bob Smith very expert.

From my chats with experience Ocean Cruisers [OCC members] I would not discount SSB so easily and the longer you sail the more economic it gets, plus a good resale market later

 

[SimonJ]

I have written about the effectiveness of a rope antenna many times. You can make your own or buy one made up. Google for more info.