Also very interested in all the same. In particular I want some reasonable email. For this summer I plan to try Iridium and SSB e-mail. I'll let you know how well it works then. Got a cheap Euro 200 iridium phone via ebay, the data kit will cost me the same again, but still worth trying.
For SSB I will subscribe to Kiel Radio for a year.
Regarding counterpoise: I have copper foil, about 4 inches wide, laminated in all the length of the boat and I have put in radials a pair each for the major frequency bands (4, 8, 12 and 17MHz).
Have no idea how well it'll work... will see.