Location of the hamstick mount, atop the port exhaust stack about 45ft above the water line.

Closer view. The antenna is close to the port main engine exhaust, however it doesnt seem to affect the antenna other than making it warm. QSYing means climbing up 5 ladders from the operating position to the top deck of the ship. The other HF antennas already onboard are unavailable for my use. Fortunately there is no interference between those and my own.

This picture from the fantail shows the relative location of the antenna - top left of the ship. The antenna itself might not be the greatest, but the location is ideal: atop a mass of welded aluminum and steel with nothing but salt water for hundreds of miles in all direction.

Here's the operating position when not in use. I build an aluminum box to house and protect the radio. It's located in my division's work shop adjacent to the engine room. The feedline runs down the stack spaces, through the engine room, into the shop.

Station set up for the CQWW weekend - The door of the box folds down to make a small table

A somewhat blurry photo of the setup

Me, at the operating position. Note my operating chair - it's the only thing which will fit.

path looking stateside

The Captain beams Europe