It does appear that the blogger has an effective
HF radio installation, but it is also clear he doesn't have much background in
radio electronics, e.g. mistakenly calling DC blocking capacitors diodes for example. Don't use a diode in that capacity!
He calls a monopole
halyard antenna a dipole, which it isn't. A dipole will be of very different construction, feed, and resonant properties but is also a highly effective
antenna at its resonant frequency.
He dismisses the SS backstay as being an inferior antenna because of the metals in it. Computer antenna modeling and experience demonstrate that there will not be a detectable difference in performance between SS and copper when used in this
service.
He makes it sound like using regular wire in any capacity in the ground/counterpoise system is bad, that is not true. Due to "skin effect" wider diameter conductors (like copper foil/strapping) are lower resistance/inductance to RF but that doesn't render a 14 gauge wire ineffective or deleterious.
He does do very good things by providing multiple ground return paths for RF: the plate on the
hull, the wide copper foil, and the window line "radial", and by keeping this isolated from the DC ground of the vessel. You really can't go wrong by adding multiple counterpoises/grounds as long as it is isolated from DC ground. It is also good to have alternate antennas for backup.
Chip