[TowerTalk] Vertical on concrete pad

[garyk9gs]

Hello all,
I have an existing concrete base of several yards of concrete that i want to mount a vertical to.
I plan on using a 2 1/2 inch OD , 36 inch long, piece of steel or aluminium tubing (thick wall) with the end welded to a flat plate with gusset plates every 90 degrees.   This plate would bolt to the concrete with anchor bolts epoxied into holes bored in the concrete.
My questions:
1)  How do I calculate the size and thickness of the plate and gusset material?
2)  How many bolts and bolt diameter needed?  Bolt length needed in the concrete?
3)  Should I use steel or aluminum?  This is coastal FL so there is some salt to contend with.  Steel would probably be painted unless I can find a local galvanizing vendor.
4)  the other thing I thought of doing was boring a 2 1/2 + inch diameter hole and just epoxying in the tubing.  Not sure how to bore a hole that large and deep.  Maybe hire someone to do this?
Suggestions?  I don't wsnt to over complicate or engineer this either.



73-Gary K9GS