A question for all you big Dob owners?

[mightymonoped]

Just investigating options at the moment...but I'm finding myself pulled towards the visual side and I'm considering a lightbucket.

If I'm looking to get a 12" Dob fo use primarily in my back garden (maybe in a roll-off roof obsy), should I get a Lightbridge or Flextube and benefit from the potential portability (but suffer the infexibility of the trussrod design) or go with a Skyliner 300p and keep the option of upgrading the mount to something like the Orion Optics aluminium box and rings for a more permanent siting and better balancing of accessories?

Tony

[Sam]

IMHO get the biggest aperture you can afford - you won't regret it!

[Doc]

Aperture rules.

With light pollution as it is. Large aperture does seem to cut through LP a little better then smaller aperture.

[lunator]

Tony

Sam has the right idea.

If I were going to get a Dob it would be largest aperture I could manage

[mightymonoped]

Thanks guys.

I'm already sold on the apeture issue, I guess the thing that worries me is how long a wood base is going to last in an observatory shed (as I am not able to move a dob on my own).

Tony

[scotastro]

Tony

Turning it round the other way which is more important to you the flexibility of being able to take the scope to a darker site or having a more permanent mounting later? All 3 of the 12 inch scopes will give you lots of wows.

BTW, a guy I know who aquired Ade Ashford's 12 inch Felxitube review scope has just it put up on astrobuysell for £550.

Just seen your addtional post.

I have a Dark Star Dobsonian and it's base is a mixture of MDF and chipboard and is only painted - it has lived in my observatory for 5 years and been use on some very damp nights without ill effects. Having looked at the construction of both the Skyliner and Lightbridge I would have thought they would not degrade either.

Mike

[Tim]

Tony,

I recently bought a skywatcher 300 flexi tube jobby, you are welcome to come and try it if you are anywhere near the midlands???

Just yell

TJ

[MrEd]

Hi Tony

I agree with all the comments about larger apature.

However i have had a 12" dob for about 2 years now and i find

the constant use of setting up can strain your back a bit.

So may i reccomend that you consider a simplistic

design for transporting/Setting up.

I hope that helps a bit.

Ed

[Doc]

Some good points to ponder....

If it is going to be sited in a roll off obsy get the biggest you can. If you are planning trips to dark sites, a 16" will be a pain to move.

I have the 16" and it's big, it lives in my conservatory and once I design and attach the wheelbarrow designed wheels I will be able to wheel it out through the patio doors.

The base it really sturdy and well built I cannot see dew or slight damp really effecting it to much.

[barkis]

I just wish I could afford a 36" Dob. I would be happy to leave it in one place, but I would build a nice house for it.

Ron.

[mightymonoped]

Thanks all. This is exactly the kind of feedback I wanted. Now I've got to do the difficult bit and make my mind up

Tony