Apropos of nothing.... when I did my SSB checks in 2008, I motored myself out of the forest of masts at Coyote Point out to the isolated dock near the launch ramp. That put about 150 feet between me and the nearest upright aluminum thing that could mess with my signal. You might want to consider extricating yourself from your marina for this.
Also, I talked to people in Richmond, Marin and Oakland, meaning distances of 30-40 miles. When I did the 2008 race I talked to boats that were 50-75 miles away, like the General. I could hear Hecla, who was as much as 250 miles ahead, but I couldn't talk to him. I figured that was adequate. I managed to do my daily check-in. So if you can't talk from Arizona to Washington, I'm not sure that's really a problem.
1968 Selmer Series 9 B-flat and A clarinets
1962 Buesher "Aristocrat" tenor saxophone
Piper One Design 24, Hull #35; "Alpha"