Re: ATM Am I Nuts?

[santryl@cadvision.com]

>       I have completed my 10" Dob.  I am thinking of ways to 
>transport it with my smaller car.  My idea is this.  Cut out 
>'saddles' from thick plywood and pad w/pipe insulation.  Mount these 
>to my roof racks.  Attach telescope tube w/bungees.
>       My concerns are:  The strength of the main mirror mont.  ( I 
>am using a mount ala Berry with silicon-it seems very strong)
>Dirt entering the tube-I plan on making tight covers for the ends and 
>focuser.
>       Does anyone else transport their scope this way?

   Nuts?  Who am I to say!  :-)
   We were able to transport our club's 30cm f7 Dobsonian in our 74 
Honda Civic and still had room for a passenger.  Somehow, the idea of 
exposing the scope to the elements makes me shudder.  It may not be 
raining when you start out, but...  The other night here, it was 
perfectly clear when I arrived home from a meeting.  I went inside, 
checked on my daughters and went in to tell my wife that I was home and 
that I was going to go out observing.  Then I asked her what that noise 
like rain was?  Rain of course!  Would you be able to keep the rain and 
spray out of your scope?  We also live on five kilometres of gravel 
road, would tossed up stones miss your scope?  What about your finder?
   In my opinion, if it is at all possible, figure out a way to carry 
your scope inside the car.
   Clear skies!
               MK