copper ground strap in hardtop

[mdshore]

please explain the need for the copper mesh and strapping that is in the main salon headliner of my 43dc.

 

[Boatsb]

Faraday cage. It protects you from the aliens and big brother.

 

[Fanfare]

It's the ground plane for a single sideband radio. Much easier to add this in construction than to try to glue one up later. Before the advent of automatic antenna tuners these radios were very finicky about their antennas. Then cell phones came in, and now only hams and long distance voyagers need them.

 

[Boatnut]

It makes for a good ground plane for any radio. It really has little to do with automatic antenna tuning, it does improve communications.

 

[mdshore]

lots of old school technology in this tank..haha

good - I just cut into it making a 4 ft hole in roof for generator removal/sofa entry.. itll become a sunroof.

 

[Boatnut]

A 4 foot hole? you couldn't get them out the door? Makes one curious as to why you asked the question in the first place.

 

[mdshore]

I asked because I cut into part of the copper mesh and strap and wondering if I needed to rebond the system . The main salon needed more light,I cant fit the sofa , gen fridge, etc without alot of difficulty ,so I designed a removable hatch/ sunroof in the center of salon.

 

[mdshore]

simple , removable and effective ..

 

[Vincentc]

The deck coring looks good, be sure you seal it with two-part epoxy to hopefully keep it that way. I would cutout about 1" of balsa all around the opening, paint the balsa with epoxy and then fill the void with filled epoxy. I would probably use chopped fiberglass filler as well as cabo-sil in order to strengthen things, and tie into your hatch coaming.

Hope to see more pictures as your project progresses.

 

[mdshore]

The deck coring looks good, be sure you seal it with two-part epoxy to hopefully keep it that way. I would cutout about 1" of balsa all around the opening, paint the balsa with epoxy and then fill the void with filled epoxy. I would probably use chopped fiberglass filler as well as cabo-sil in order to strengthen things, and tie into your hatch coaming.

Hope to see more pictures as your project progresses.

Im well versed in structural and cosmetic fiberglass construction and rebuilding. thanks for the tips though the copper ground threw me off however.

Ill be using stepped coosaboard with vinylester resin as my bed for the glass inlay. sealed in with dow795 structural silicone.

 

[rwappleton]

OK I am interested Please post lots of pictures

 

[Finalee]

That is an interesting modification. I have always thought more light and air would be a good thing. Yes more pictures and detail. Thanks.

 

[Boatnut]

I asked because I cut into part of the copper mesh and strap and wondering if I needed to rebond the system . The main salon needed more light,I cant fit the sofa , gen fridge, etc without alot of difficulty ,so I designed a removable hatch/ sunroof in the center of salon.

I wish I had seen the picture first. They typically put the copper screen in the fly bridge deck. I'm not sure why they put it lower. Unless you are a real fanatic about signal strngth (which is pretty much a waste of time on marine band), don'tworry about it.

 

[mdshore]

some other of my unusual mods underway-a bar with fridge, storage and sink .

 

[SKYCHENEY]

The mesh screen is for the SSB. The flat copper strap is for bonding. You need to keep that connected.

 

[mdshore]

iit still connected aside from a 4 ft section .

 

[sgharford]

I don't recall a bonding strap or copper mesh under there on mine (1976 43DC) when I cut the same area open to replace core. I also had headliner down and only thing in that vicinity were wires and copper tube between headliner and lower skin of deck for the original mast and horn. That's a pretty nifty option the original owner ordered if it was between the upper and lower skin.

 

[mdshore]

ssb not really needed these days per my electronics guy, esp for inland boat.

 

[mdshore]

more pics when theres better daylight ..

 

[Boatnut]

Many may agree ssb is not needed, but I would consider it an opinion more than fact. VHF range is about 25 miles off shore, cell phones typically less than that. If you are not going off shore it is not needed, but given my experience it sure is nice to have the longer range. If you have one you might want to keep it, if not it's probably just another toy.