[TowerTalk] screw anchors in sandy soil

[Cqtestk4xs at aol.com]

After Hurricane Charlie roared through Punta Gorda in 2005 I had to  make a 
tower delivery to Clear Channel for a back up link the next day.  I  saw 
several tower failures with screw anchors yanked out of the ground.   Wet 
sandy soil was evident at the anchor points. 
 
I have FL sugar sand at my QTH and have used screw anchors on only  one of 
the towers...a 65 footer with a light load.  The screw anchors on  that one 
are 8 feet long and are the same ones the power companies use.   The 200 
footers are all guyed with concrete "sleds" 7 feet wide, four feet front  to 
back and 3 feet thick, buried 5 1/2 to 6 ft deep with enough rebar and  
concrete to build a small house in FL.  Pretty much to Rohn  specs.
 
Bill K4XS