T&T: SSB Whip Antenna Lengths

[Frank Osborne]

I have 15 year old Shakespeare 21' VHF & SSB antennas on my boat and the 
VHF antenna has cracked and both are getting fuzzy so I want to replace 
them both but I'm unsure on the best length for the SSB antenna. SSB 
whip antennas come lengths from 16' to 24'. From what I've read the 
shorter lengths lose strength in the 4 to 8 MHz frequencies. Digital 
brand antennas state that their 16' SSB antenna 'electrically emulates a 
24 SSB antenna and tunes to the entire HF band'. Can that be done 
successfully and is that as good as a real 24' antenna? Is bigger really 
better?

One antenna brand that has good specs is Commander Technologies. Anyone 
have any experience with them?
I'm cruising in the Sea of Cortes and I use the SSB daily for weather, 
communications, and email (SailMail) so I want a good setup and the 
prices between brands and lengths are not that great.

Any comments or real life experiences are appreciated.

-- 
Frank Osborne
Discovery N46-37
Home Port: Anacortes, WA
Blog:http://mvdiscovery.blogspot.com/