FD2002 - 40M Dipole End Support

One end of the 40M dipole was held high off the bow of the boat with a extendable fiberglass fishing pole, an SD20, attached to the pulpit. It is black with some blue trim. Notice how the far end is bent up into the air. If you expand the picture, it is possible to make out the nylon fishing cord attached to the dipole's white insulator, coming to the tip of the SD20, and then coming back to the pulpit where it was tied off.

In this picture, the SD20 is attached to the pulpit with "flat twine" (a plastic tape product that sticks only to itself). It does not look like a solid fastening, does it? However, you need to understand that the far end of the SD20 is being held in the air by the dipole itself, firmly wedging the fishing pole into positon.

The other end of the 40M dipole was held high off the stern of the boat with a second SD20, wedged against the back railings. Again, notice how the far end is bent up into the air. In this picture, it is easier to make out the nylon fishing cord coming from the end of the dipole to the tip of the SD20, and then coming back to the stern railings where it was tied off.

Here the second SD20 extendable fiberglass fishing pole was tied with "flat twine" to a convenient fixture to secure its position at the stern.

An SD20 is used a lot by QRP'ers and hikers to hold up temporary antennas. In its extended position, it is about twenty feet long.


If you click on any picture, you'll get a bigger version.