I'm sure Ron AC7AC will remember the 'safety link' - (maybe it had a different name in the US Merchant Marine) but long wire antennas on Commonwealth ships had a section at one end made of a short length of the same wire as the antenna, but with two of the seven strands removed. This link had a slightly longer length of antenna wire shackled across in a shallow "U", which in the event of a sudden shock load the link would break but the antenna remained intact. The spans were 500' or more, and were kept taut in order to support the vertical "lead-in". In heavy weather (head sea), the vessel could shudder - almost ring, like a very large bell, and the masts would shake violently. Losing the main antenna in severe weather was no trivial matter, especially if it dropped around the radar scanner.
Slightly off-topic, but relevant if you are using tree supports - counterweights are the "belt", and safety links are the "braces" (galouses -spelling? in the US). <G> 73, Ken ZL1AIH (showing his age) _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [email protected] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
