H2IKXF

I have just dealt with a similar complaint concerning the standard 6 x 30 finder scope Celestron provides with their OMNI series.

I choose to go with a Telrad.

You can read about my adventure here:

http://stargazerslounge.com/equipment-discussion/99660-some-observations-installation-telrad.html

The curse was broken on 2010.03.03. See photo album for shot taken.

It's funny how many people forget about duct tape as a solution to lifes problems. :-)

I was thinking some more concerning your predicament and rather than use large stones (which while being far more attractive are also expensive to procure) you could go to your local builders and get some 4 inch concrete cinder blocks. If you paint these the same color as your roof and lay them flat then they will be quite difficult to see unless your really looking. And, laying them flat would preclude having to wedge them as the square area making contact with the roof would provide more than sufficient friction on a normally pitched roof.

Anyway... I hope this helps.

I like them.

Oh!!! And make sure you put a wedge under them or with vibration the rocks will slide off the roof and knock someone in the head.

I recommend using bailing wire rather than bungee cords. And if you can't get any bailing wire then by all means go to the fall-back of bubble-gum as an adhesive/sealent and bailing twine as your securing material. Have you considered using duct tape?

Okay now that I've gotten the sillies out of me concerning your predicament I should like to offer a bit of serious advice.

In days of old, in those countries where wind played havoc with keeping ones roof on, the locals would place rocks on top of the roof to help in keeping it down. Each rock was usually about 7 to 14 lbs each and there would at least two or three to each roof pitch.

You might want to give this fellow http://stargazerslounge.com/members/towa-17619.html a jingle. A casual search through the forums here revealed this posting by them: http://stargazerslounge.com/members-equipment-gallery/92176-another-classic-scope-swift-towa-80mm.html#post1336490

I think they may know something that can help you.