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Author Topic: QRP on a Kayak  (Read 8906 times)

VA7CPC

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QRP on a Kayak
« Reply #15 on: July 26, 2006, 05:24:34 PM »

1/4 wave on 20m is about 16'.  That's longer than a "longish" fishing rod.   So inductive loading is probably  necessary for resonance, unless you have a "crappie pole" or something similar.

Perhaps a 1/4 wave counterpoise, trailing behind the boat, supported at the water's surface by small fishing bobbers (or ping-pong balls) would work in salt water?

There's a Web page that describes doing interesting DX from a fly fisherman's float tube.  I don't have the URL, but if you can find it, _that's_ the guy to talk to.  His problems were worse than yours!
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AB9LZ

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QRP on a Kayak
« Reply #16 on: July 27, 2006, 07:17:04 AM »

I am using a crappie pole (works for fish too!). When I attempt a qso I turn down wind, ususally there is enough speed to keep the wire on the surface... no need for floats.

A side benifit is that the pole floats, as such it keeps the boat from going turtle when I jump out. The crappie pole predates the marine mobile nonsense, as it can be pressed into service as a mast to fly a small spinnaker (a tent fly really), I've covered over 30 miles in a day on a downwind passage this way.

A couple of other things that Im running into. I need to rethink the enclosure, the pot shafts need a better waterproofing scheme as leakage takes them out after one or two trips. Plus, Im beginning to see a little delamination of the traces from the circuit board where the solder is oxidizing. There is simply no way to keep the radio (or anything else in the boat for that matter) from getting wet while in use.

Conditions permitting, I'll be AB9LZ/MM on the passage to South Manitou Island in about two weeks. 14030 +- 5. I may bring the K2 (gulp) for when I get to dry land.

73 Mark.
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WB6BYU

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QRP on a Kayak
« Reply #17 on: July 28, 2006, 10:51:14 AM »

AB9LZ wrote:
> ... I may bring the K2 (gulp)...

Tupperware.

The best camera accessory I had in southeast Alaska was a
2-quart Tupperware container to carry the camera in.  At
one point it was floating in salt water in the bottom of
a canoe and stayed perfectly dry.  Get a big enough
container so it floats, then put it in a standard dry bag
for added protection if you are still worried.  Put your
name and address inside the container so there is a chance
it may get returned to you in case it floats away.

AE6RF

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QRP on a Kayak
« Reply #18 on: July 30, 2006, 07:49:47 AM »

OK,

Here is a link from the FT-817 mailing list.

Taken yesterday. Marine mobile from a 5 foot row boat.

(SSB rather than CW) 33' end-fed with an MFJ pole for a mast. 10 contacts.

http://www.n0lx.com/mm_sunset.html

Looks great to me!

Donald
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AE6RF

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QRP on a Kayak
« Reply #19 on: December 11, 2006, 03:29:56 PM »

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