WILL DRAGGING AN ANTENNA OUT THE BACK OF A SEAPLANE DO ANY DAMAGE (TO THE ANTENNA OR RECEIVER)? AS I HAVE IT SET UP RIGHT NOW, ABOUT 10" WOULD BE WET, DRAGGING IN THE WATER. OR, SHOULD I COIL THE EXTRA ANTENNA IN THE FUSELAGE AND ATTACH THE END TO THE VERTICAL STABILIZER?

THANKS,

DJ

It sounds like a bad idea but I have had it happen with never a glitch. I suspect the signal strength is so great when you're on the water, that the antenna still gets enough signal to function properly.

Do not coil the antenna! I've seen a number of planes go down because a novice hadn't uncoiled the antenna when he put the RTF plane together, went to the field and put it in hard!

Dragging the antenna in the water won't hurt it, though I don't know what kind of set-up you have that wouldn't allow some means of keeping it out of the water. If you are thinking of coiling the antenna and then attaching it to the vertical stab, why not just attach it to the vertical stab without coiling it? Wouldn't this keep it up out of the water?

Gentleman... thank you for you replies!

My dilema is this... my Herr Aquastar is completed & ready for its maiden voyage. I have run the antenna from the receiver up through the top of the fuselage, just behind the TE of the wing. If I pull the antenna tight-ish, and fasten it to the top of the vertical stabilizer (as I have done will all my land lubber planes), the antenna will certainly be dragging in the water approx. 10" behind the plane.

In your opinion, would it be best to do as I have done with my trainers, sailplanes, etc... by stringing the antenna over the top of the vertical stabilizer and let the remainder of the antenna dance in the waves and the wind? Or, should I stuff the extra antenna in the fuselage and only bring out enough to reach the vertical stabilizer, plus a few inches to drape over (but not reach the water)?

Thanks again for your replies, and best regards,

DJ

Yes

Absolutely not. Antennas should never be coiled, stuffed or anything other than run straight.

Our hamster had wet tail and that was not a good thing....

As soon as the plane starts to move the antenna is going to come out of the water anyways this should not be a problem. Like the others say DO NOT COIL OR STUFF ANY ANTENNA[&o] or get your self one of the ariel type antennas and that would solve your problems with a wet antenna

The biggest problem is you will have the antenna wire wicking water up into the antenna wire and possibly into the radio. Just take a dab of thick super glue or silicone and seal the end and let it !QUOT!flop!QUOT!!---don't cut it off or or coil it