Hey Thanks so much for the replies!

  I have found out some more info.  I talked to Dave Powers (who has commissioned many Hylas Yachts over the years on the west coast, he knows the boats) about the issue.  We discussed the KISS-SSB and it installation on a H49.  He thinks the copper filled tubing should be located under the waterline.  Since our ICOM tuner is located in the Port Aft Lazerette, he suggested drilling a hole into the aft cabin and running the copper filled tubing under the aft cabin berth.

  My whole concern about the HF Counter-Poise is not actually based on degraded transmission (I have yet to transmit word one on our ICOM 710), but purely on the assumption that it would be degraded because of the observed severely degraded copper foil in the engine room.  Dave enlightened me that there are actually two different sized copper foils running throughout the boat.  A 3 in. wide foil (imbedded in the Fiberglass) that is part of the HF counter-poise (ground?) system and a 1 1/2 in. foil associated with the bonding system (all the green wires attached to through-hulls and strainers are attached to this 1 1/2 in. foil).  It is the 1 1/2 in. copper foil that I have been able to access in the engine room that is severely corroded.

I have been told there are many opinions on bonding systems, a break in the system may not be a bad thing (a stray external current may be transmitted throughout the body via the interconnected bonding system, a break would prevent that).  I WILL repair what 1 1/2 in copper foil, I can access, but I feel that the integrity of the bonding system and its effects on the boat are mitigated by the well placed and abundant sacrificial anodes on the H49.

I wasn't aware (haven't noticed is more accurate) that the 3 in.  foil also passes through the (bilge/engine room) in the H49.  Where I have seen it (under the forward V berth) it appears partially imbedded in the fiberglass (implying it was done during manufacture) and in good condition.

I am going to write QL to see if they can provide me 1 1/2 in. copper foil (bonding system) and if they have any schematics showing where the where the two foils (3 in. and 1 1/2 in.) run in the boat (of particular interest is if the 3 in. foil runs in the bilge/engine room).  I also need to find out how and to whom I can get a decent HF radio check in SoCal.  The Baja Ha Ha gets underway this fall, maybe I will try their HF net. 

If anyone has any amplifying info on:

1)  KISS-SSB install, specifically where to run the 10 foot tubing. 
2)  Is the 3 in. copper foil (associated with the HF counter poise) routed in the engine room Y/N
3)  Does the 1 1/2 in copper foil, severely corroded in the engine room need to be repaired

I would appreciate it.

Thank you!!

Jack Kennedy (HF idiot)
Dealatis H49-035

We had exactly the same issue and, after the copper dissolved, etc., went with KISS, and it worked great on several passages, including across the Atlantic.   The copper (much of which was in the bilge) was a nightmare.

Charles Cunningham
"Agua Dulce"
Hylas 54 #30

Hi Dan - congrats on your H46 purchase. We have SV Helios, a 2000 H46, hull #27. I recently replaced the genoa sheets and went with 1/2" line, about 75' long each side. The 1/2" tends to grab better in the self-tailers on the winches - I found that the 9/16" sheets that were on the boat when we bought it 4 years ago tended to slip out of the self-tailers until loaded up unless you really yanked them to start, particularly as the lines aged.
Brad

It's true - Queen Long will probably send you some for free if you contact them.  I updated and color-coded many of our tags using a laser engraver/cutter and two-layer acrylic. You might be able to find a trophy shop or "maker space" that could help you with this.  Fortunately, I had one available at work to use.

Thanks Merrill, that's a very good point and certainly one I will consider when determining my halyard lengths!  So far I've only ordered new genoa sheets, so I'll look at various halyard options after I have more time on the boat.


Cheers!


Dan

S/v Nepenthe