Well, shoot, decided not to give up just yet.
Here's what I finally settled on:
Homemade Firestik Dipole
Simple to make. Just one piece of angle iron and two 4' Firestiks with stud mounts and a 90 degree adapter.
Tuning it with the Firestik tunable tips was a snap. First SWR readings:
CH 1 - 2.0
CH 20 - 1.8
CH 40- 2.2
Final readings with each tip extended 1/2":
CH 1 - 1.3
CH 20 - 1.1
CH 40 - 1.2
Didn't hear any locals but LOTS of skip. Chatted with some guy in Philidelphia with my measly 3 watts.
I am done experimenting until I move somewhere where I can put up my Moonraker on a tower.
Riverman, standing by.