i would go with 3 8' pieces of aluminum tubing telescoped. probably 5/8",
1/2", and 3/8". for temporary fixed operation that would be plenty strong
enough and would easily pack in a small tube. joints are easy to make with
a hacksaw and hose clamps and can easily be tuned by loosening a clamp and
sliding the joint a bit.

"Ed" wrote in message
. 192.196...


I wish to build a 23 foot whip antenna similar to the Shakespeare 393 HF
marine antenna, ( quite pricey ). It must be in three 7 1/2 foot long
sections and screws together, as shown he http://shakespeare-
marine.com/antennas.asp?antenna=393

I'm thinking along the lines of a 7 1/2 foot stainless steele whip on
top of two 7 1/2 foot long segments of my own construction. At present,
I think the two bottom sections would be copper tubing, enclosed within
PVC pipe. Although I have some ideas for the connections, I would like
to hear from others their ideas on both the building of two stiffer bottom
sections for this whip, along with ways of fabricating the screw-together
connections that would be both electrically sound and sturdy. The whip
will be for fixed mobile operation at a motorhome. The entire assembly
must break down and fit within a larger 8 foot long PVC tube for storage.

I realize I could go with telescoping aluminum tubing, but I prefer
something more elegant, such as this marine antenna.

Ed K7AAT