Patent ID: 7411558

Claim:
A buoyant, flexible antenna system operable for use in water with a transmission line, said system comprising: at least one buoyant section of said transmission line for supporting at least one portion of said transmission line along a surface of said water; a flexible weighted keel section of said transmission line, said flexible weighted keel section comprising weight elements such that said flexible weighted keel section has a density greater than water and sinks in water, said weight elements being selected and positioned such that said flexible weighted keel section sinks no lower than a selected maximum depth range below a surface of said water during operation; a rotary connection for coupling between said buoyant portion of said transmission line and said flexible weighted keel portion; a buoyant platform portion of said transmission line on an opposite side of said flexible weighted keel portion from said rotary connection, said buoyant platform portion extending upwardly from said flexible weighted keel portion; and at least one antenna mounted to said buoyant platform portion of said transmission line.