As an update and to add caution to those setting up fixed observing locations.
I have now lived with the pad for a year and the pier for a couple of months and
felt an update on how it's going should be posted.
The pad with fixed pier has been a boon psychologically and got me observing more,
But it has also shown a flaw in my plan.
Being a fixed pier:
You cannot dodge the trees in your way as I did with a tripod
You cannot move to get a look at planets etc.
The Dobson will not now fit on the pad area without light intrusion!
And I have kept the Dobson for use at home as well as away as its great on DSO.
So more challenges produced by my changes than I expected, I clearly did not think it all through.
I at the time was focused on a fixed pier and new mount (no new mount for now) and got task focused from a bigger picture.
The Dobson was slated to go, this was to finance the mount, but its too big a cost in loss of 10" aperture and ease of use to do this.
At present the options are:
Do nothing put up, shut up...... but not the best of ideas.
Remove the Pier after all this work and use a Tripod...... Mrs W will kill me!
Suggest an extension to the observing pad....... Mrs W will kill me!
Grow a big pair and suggest the above changes.
I think the fourth is the one to go for, so wish me luck.
If no more posts pop up from me on SGL, I may be under the Patio!! 😉
Any thoughts folks?