[Dad was my hero]

I was looking for over two decades at the 18", originally the one they now call the Classic then changed my desire to the ultra compact (UC) when that came out. In high school I ground my own 8" mirror as a project for senior astronomy class. I finished the whole package after graduating and used that for almost four decades. I gave it away when we moved to FL thinking the skies would be no good d/t the humidity since central PA skies were lousy when it was "clear" but high humidity they were hazy.

I thought occasionally about the 20" but wanted the UC design. Then I thought about the 22" but I didn't want to have to use a step ladder for much of the viewing. I've gone through almost all the Messier objects when using it. I just wish there was less light pollution where I use it but it is within walking distance from my house.

It took me about a half hour to get everything packed into my car and same to get out and another 20 minutes to set up then half an hour to drive to somewhere with less light pollution. All in for packing and traveling I figure a minimum of 2 hours shot, granted the first hour can be done before sunset but you aren't always sure what the night sky will look like until the sunsets. With the shroud the light itself doesn't make much difference for viewing but makes it difficult for me to spot the typical nightsky landmarks to align the scope to. It has the Tel-rad which took me a little time getting used to but I'm ok with it as opposed to the old cross hairs finder scope I had.

But if you don't have one, the portability isn't as good as their videos make it appear. The mirror box base alone weighs almost 100 lbs and putting it into the back of my BMW X5 strains my back.

You might want to be cautious which dob you buy if you are planning to use it near salt water. I remember reading some of the details about a Mak-Cas that said NOT to use it if you were near a body of saltwater - just something to think about.

[Conan the Librarian]

I know it’s heavy. My buddy uses a small trailer for his 22. UC (Ultra Compact) I couldn’t remember the name.

You wouldn’t happen to be in the Tampa area? The St Pete Astronomy Club is a GREAT group. They are having a Star party at Dade City in about 2 weeks. Not the darkest skies, but, it’s always fun!

One other thing. Look into the Astronomical Leagues Viewing Clubs. Specially the Urban Astronomy one. 100 items that you can see in light polluted skies. (If you can see the Milky Way in any form, it’s too dark). It has Messier objects (including galaxies), clusters, nebula, and multiple star systems. It will keep you busy as you can’t use goto or digital circles to find them to qualify.

I did this with my 10” Newt a few years ago in my back yard (when we had one). I had 2 lights overhanging my back yard. One I could block by using a tree, the other with a beach umbrella on a tall poll. It gave me about 20 sq feet of shadow.

As for the boat, any scope I get will have to fit in a water proof toolbox. We’ve lived aboard for 4 years now and know what and what not to leave out! :D Besides, I live in coastal Georgia, it’s salty everywhere. We use to go out on the pier at the beach and do “guerilla astronomy”, no problems with salt there either and we were over the waves.

Several years we did an Astronomy Day program out on the pier. We won the competition all of those years, going up against the Hayden Planetarium and the nations of Ireland and Iran. It can be done.