Astronomers on Board - Meade vs Sky-Watcher

[First Mate]

anyone have any thoughts on which manufacturer is preferable for a 10" truss mounted collapsible Dobsonian telescope?

May purchase soon for our evening forays onto land.

Does either manufacturer provide a better product or have different characteristics worth mentioning?

Any thoughts on keeping the collapsed telescope dry in its box on the way to shore in a RIB? Are there dry bags suitable for that purpose (probably a stupid question).

Thanks

FM

[S&S]

I'd be concerned about mirror damage with any open mirror scope. Salt and front silvered aluminum are not friends.

Truth be told, I'd consider a short focus refractor (Stellarvue or the like)

[David M]

You are going to need protection from more than moisture or humidity. Your scope also needs to be protected from impact and vibration.

I would pack one in nothing less than a hard waterproof case. I am particular to Pelican Cases for this. You won't have any problems transporting it ashore in a wet dinghy ashore or worry about it being dropped or banged against something. Additionally, the scope will probably last longer in a marine environment being stored in one of these cases as well. Yes they are expensive, but so is a really nice scope.

I have scientists and engineers who bring sensitive electronics and instruments aboard in these cases all the time. Quite often the case itself is the enclosure for the controller part of the instrument.

http://www.pelican.com/case_category...e=Large%&New=%

[slomotion]

I have no experience with Dobsonian scopes.

When we went cruising, we had a 5" programable Celestron reflector and we kept it in a sports equipment bag. Probably not the best idea, but we had no problems and it was definitely a hit during a cruisers' potluck dinner on the beach in St. John. Meade makes both hard and soft telescope cases - maybe not for 10" Dobsonians though.

After a year we gave our scope to our son because we simply weren't ashore after dark often enough to get much use out of it.

[GordMay]

There’s all sorts of “dry” or “waterproof” bags, often sold in canoeing & outdoors stores.

➥ MEC Brooks Bag Dry Bag - Mountain Equipment Co-op

[First Mate]

thanks Folks,

will take all that good advice and think for a while on it.

[ad_astra]

Can't comment on the boat aspects of telescope ownership yet (still looking for a boat myself), but I have owned an 8" Synta equatorially mounted newtonian since 2001 and never had a problem with it. Excellent optical quality, etc. Tried to re-collimate a few years ago and found it was still in perfect collimation! Synta is the Chinese company that manufactures telescopes for the Sky Watch brand (and just about everyone else these days).

Don't know much about Meade's in the range that you're looking at, though.