[Boatanchors] Boatanchors

[D C _Mac_ Macdonald]

Well, Don, let's face it.  There's enough weight in a DX-100, 32V, Apache, Viking I or II, B&W 5100 rig, etc. to say nothing of the big tube amplifiers that if attached to a hunk of stout rope and tied to a smallish boat, the boat would pretty much stay in one place barring a gale or stronger wind! 
 
I have finally managed to find buyers for the Viking II and Valiant I that I had in the garage.  Now I need to find buyers for the HRO-60s that are taking up room in the same place.  I had planned to go through these as a retirement project, but now they're more than I can lift without risking damage to my back!  Anybody interested in NCL-2000 amps? 
 
* * * * * * * * * * * 
* 73 - Mac, K2GKK/5 * 
* (Since 30 Nov 53) * 
* k2gkk hotmail com * 
* Oklahoma City, OK * 
* USAF & FAA (Ret.) * 
* * * * * * * * * * * 
 

> From: k4kyv at hotmail.com
> To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
> Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2015 01:29:04 +0000
> Subject: [Boatanchors] Boatanchors
> 
> In the previous thread that started on the subject of 813s and  grid to  filament short and quickly morphed to a discussion on horizontal vs vertical mounting of tubes, then to p.e.p. and AM  power, a couple of people mentioned how they were "offended" by the terms "slopbucket", "plastic radios" and "appliance operators".  If I were so thin-skinned, I would have to say I'd be offended by the term "boatanchor".
> 
> I always resented the expression "boatanchor"; although it's not so much the case now, it used to be clearly derisive, back in the the sideband-for-the-masses era (the period when Swans, Galaxies, Heathkit Hotwater rigs and their ilk first made SSB easy and affordable to the average non-technical ham and ignited the infamous AM vs SSB wars of the 1960s). Back then, "boatanchor" was a term often used to make fun of solidly-built equipment like a Collins 32V series transmitter, R-390 receiver, or heavy power supply and modulation iron.  I remember more than once back in the early 70s, being at a hamfest and lugging something like a BC-610 plate transformer or a kilowatt modulation transformer back to the car, and hearing snide remarks off to the side as I made my way through the crowd, 'har har looks like somebody found himself a BOAT ANCHOR, har har'.
> 
> But I think I was the one who got the last laugh.  Over the years, from many hamfests, estate sales, classified ads and even picking stuff off kerbside on trash pick-up day, I now pretty much have my own private radio warehouse, and rarely have to purchase anything brand new for building a project, but look at the prices this kind stuff is bringing on e-Pay and elsewhere to-day, if you can even find it.
> 
> Don k4kyv