Length of Copper Straps for Ground Plane

[roverhi]

I'm going to use copper strap radials from the tuner for my ground plane. Problem is the strap comes in 25' and 50' lengths but my boat is 35'.
From what I've read longer is better but this stuff is not cheap. Don't want to waste 20' of copper for each radial and don't want to get a poor signal if I just go with 25' for each radial. Plan is to run three radials, two under the deck on each side and one in the bilge

Would it be any advantage to run the 50' strapping to the bow and then back down the other side?? Will the copper hold together and work like a 35' length strap if I solder 25' material together to get 35'?? Will running just 25' radials significantly degrade the signal?? Oh yeah, plan on gluing the strapping to the under side of the deck with 5200.

Aloha
Peter O.
Pearson 35