[TowerTalk] Re: [CQ-Contest] Aluminum Towers (Tower Survey)

[Jon, W4ZW]

I have an Aluminum heights 40' tower that goes up on FD but is stored
horizontally most of the time among the sea oats on the beach behind my
house.  It shows no wear after six years in a direct ocean front
environment.  More interesting is the roof top Glen Martin tower I have
on the 3rd floor of the house.  It has been up for almost 8 years now
and shows no weathering other than the normal aluminum oxidation that
the beams show.  In fact, it shows very little of the oxidation, maybe
20% of that found on the beams.  The thrust bearing (also Glen Martin)
was junk with galvanized bolts that were destroyed by the sea within 18
months of putting it up.  I had it redone with stainless hardware and it
has done OK.  The HyGain tail twisters look like they are 10 years old
by the end of the first year.  The first one I put up lasted for almost
three years before giving up the ghost.  The rotor doctor pronounced it
DOA and NOT subject to reincarnation.  I do routine maintenance on the
rotors every 12 months now, and I might be able to get 48 months out of
them.  Likewise, the ss/aluminum fittings on the beams require liberal
amounts of noalux and  either liquid tape or marine varnish and still
need maintenance every 18-24 months.

But, hey, the propagation is absolutely marvelous with all this ocean
outside!



Jon Hamlet,  W4ZW
Casey Key Island, FL

"A little bit of Paradise in the Gulf of Mexico"