K7ITM wrote:
Seems like a better mechanical arrangement would be to have the whip
attached securely to the mounting bracket, and the N connector also
securely attached to the mounting bracket, arranged to there's
relatively little strain on the center pin of the N connector...

What seems to me that would work would be some variation on a U shaped bracket:

(pardon the ASCII art)

II (antenna)
_____________
| IIII |
| II |NNN
| L-----|NNN
M |M |NNN
M |M |
M |M |
| |

N is the N connector
M is the mounting bolt for the bracket.
If the wire is stranded, then there would be little or no stress on the center
pin of the N connector.

Or if you want the wire out the bottom,

II (antenna)
_____________
| IIII
| II
M|M |
M|M |
| NNNNN
_____NNNNN___
NNNNN
NNNNN
NNNNN

73,

Geoff.

--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson N3OWJ/4X1GM
Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to misquote it.