On 4/23/2017 4:26 PM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:
On Sun, 23 Apr 2017 15:16:40 -0400, rickman wrote:

I said the particular case I was being asked about was not over salt
water. I didn't say it was on a river. The particular case is for use
on the Great Lakes.

It's my understanding the propagation over the Great Lakes is similar
to that over the ocean. However, I have no experience on the Great
Lakes.

I believe the issue of salt water came up because of a materials
concern, aluminum vs. stainless steel.


Your info is helpful. Thanks.

Y're welcome. I mentioned the problem to a friend who was into
kayaking when he was younger. He said that kayaks often carry push
poles to get them off the rocks. These are often used as an
improvised distress flag mast. I found this one:
https://thesuperstick.com/product/push-pole/
which goes to 17ft extended. Hopefully, there are cheaper models.

Not sure who told you about "push poles", but I've never run into
kayaker with a push pole. If you get on rocks, you have a paddle. I
don't even know where you would stow a push ploe. Much better to not
get on the rocks.


To attach an antenna, there's the usual roll of coax cable and some
kind of temporary mounting clip. Perhaps something like this, but
with lower loss coax cable:
http://www.dhgate.com/product/nagoya-rb-clp-window-clip-mount-rg-174-u/176624090.html
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/NAGOYA-RB-CLP-Window-Clip-Mount-RG-174-U-3m-Cable-BNC-for-walkie-talkie-Radio/1295452_32312249435.html
Or, just an L-bracket with a connector attached. Or, a big rubber
band. Whatever gets the antenna higher.

You're on your own on how to keep the push pole mast upright.

Vessels sometimes carry "emergency" antennas. The idea is that if the
main antenna is in some way lost, the emergency antenna would be
substituted. Examples:
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/shakespeare--stowaway-emergency-vhf-antenna--519058
http://shakespeare-ce.com/marine/product/sl-156-emergency-vhf-antenna/
They're usually small and have little gain, but might offer some
useful ideas.

If I find a kayak with a roll down window I'll get one of these and try it.

A kayak is not a large fishing vessel. It is a small, narrow boat with
little deck space. I had a deck mounted light on a two foot pole and it
was always a problem by being in the way, especially when getting in and
out of the boat. You wouldn't believe how stupid and crappy many
kayaking products are.

I seriously doubt any sort of deck mounted antenna will be acceptable to
a serious kayaker, but if it is unobtrusive and light enough it might
work. There are a number of commercial marine VHF antennas that should
do the job. The trick will be finding one that works as well on a kayak
deck as a power boat. That's the main reason why kayakers use hand held
radios.

--

Rick C