[TowerTalk] Insurance for Towers

[Patrick Greenlee]

Chuck, It isn't the years... It is the condition and attitude that matters!

I too do not climb towers. I use crank-ups and or tilt overs and a large 
extension ladder.

Patrick Af5CK

-----Original Message----- 
From: Chuck Smallhouse
Sent: Wednesday, November 27, 2013 4:59 PM
To: TowerTalk at contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Insurance for Towers

I've had two claims that I submitted to the insurance company that I
use, USAA.  One was for a lightening(or a power surge) event, and the
other was for wind damage of a tower and antenna system.

In the lightening damage incident, which blew up 240 and 120 VAC
breakers, among other household items, TV, phone recorder system
etc., as well as several pieces of equipment in the ham shack.  They
replaced all items, even a xcvr that ICOM claimed that the no longer
could replace a failed microprocessor type chip .

The wind damage was a collapsed tower and some slight damage to the
antenna systems.  The antennas I repaired myself, and they replaced
the antenna tubular mast system with a stronger triangular crank up tower.

Part of my success, I believe, is that I volunteered to repair some
items and install all of the replaced ones myself .  In neither case
did they send an agent out to assess the damage.  I don't recall
noticing any increase in the annual policy premium.

This was in AZ and about 10 and 15 years ago.  YMMV !   Of course
they've had both my auto and home owners' insurance policies for over
55 years, with, at those times, no auto claims.

BTW, I generally feel uncomfortable working with crank up towers,
even when cranked most of the way down.  I recently procrastinated,
for some time, in repairing an antenna system that was on one.  One
day I was in a Wal Mart store and noticed that they had tall push up
extension ladders on sale.  After going home and thinking about, I
returned and purchased a 24' one for $144.  It easily reached, to
within working distance, of the top of the nearly fully cranked down
tower.  I did strap it to the side of the tower, in a couple of
places, to improve its stability and my confidence, HI.

I figured that was a cheap insurance (pun intended) for the piece of
mind of both me and my spouse, especially since some now consider me
approaching elder citizen status.

Chuck,  W7CS

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