There it stands. My dad and I put the top section on tonight. It tops 44
feet.
My pulse races every time I come above the roof line. The tower is a lot
more steady with the upper bracket, but even though I KNOW it should be
strong enough, it's hard to be up there wobbling around.
While I was up there, I gave serious thought to quitting and finding or
hiring someone to do the rest of the work. Then I got down to the
business of raising the top section. While I was working, it wasn't so
scary.
Still, it took all I could muster to clumb up and undo the sling. That's
still just below the rotator shelf.
I still have to raise the gin pole, assemble and raise the antennas,
install the rotator, cables, etc.
Does climbing ever get easier?
--
Based on how things have worked out, I'm considering using a shorter
mast. This 9' mast is nice, but I didn't get all the reinforcement into
the attic that I wanted. A 5' mast might be better, and would be easier
to install. I wouldn't dare cut the 9' Al mast K9AY gave me. I need to
find a 2" mast that's shorter, or something that I wouldn't mind cutting,
like some thin-wall steel.
Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL Mail: aa4lr@arrl.net
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
-- Wilbur Wright, 1901
--
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