[TowerTalk] Fiberglass UV

[WD4K]

Yes indeed, I would be surprised, considering that some of the very best
manufacturers of antennas have yet to defeat UV and mother nature...mother
always wins.
Nonsense?..not so when your own comments even limit the life expectancy to
10 years or so, and that is probably a stretch..time will tell. I have
nothing against steppir..I saw the presentation at Dayton and it is a well
engineered product. Have a good friend who has one and he seems to like it
alot.
However, I have seen the results of fiberglass exposed to the elements and
comment only on that..have no idea of your time and cost to repair every ??
years. That is a value call you have to make.
Nonsense would be exposing a piece of aluminum alongside a piece of
fiberglass to the elements.. and expecting the fiberglass to outlast the
aluminum...unless you encased the fiberglass inside the aluminum...that
might work. 73, Tommy

-----Original Message-----
From: Joe Subich, K4IK [mailto:k4ik at subich.com]
Sent: Monday, March 22, 2004 11:18 PM
To: 'WD4K'; towertalk at contesting.com
Subject: RE: [TowerTalk] Fiberglass UV




> From: WD4K
> Sent: Monday, March 22, 2004 11:52 PM
>
> I question if steppir has any miracle to protect the
> fiberglass..what I do know is after boating for over 30
> years, nothing I have ever seen will protect the fiberglass
> antenna from UV damage,wind/sand blasting,acid rain and
> constant vibration and movement.

> That record is not reassuring if you compare fiberglass in
> the air for 20 years vs aluminum. We know about aluminum, we
> gamble and hope with fiberglass.

Nonsense ... I've seen commercial fiberglass antennas last
for 10+ years.  If I needed to do so I could renew A SteppIR
(even a four element antenna) for less than $250 (eight ESTs at
$30 each).  $25 per year of use ... that's a bargain.  I've
spent more than that repairing aluminum antennas that weren't
10 years old.

BTW, you might be surprised what the right coatings can do.

73,

   ... Joe, K4IK