I just thought I¡¯d mention a clearance issue with my own setup. I have a G11 on a permanent pier with the 4¡± pier height extension and the RA EXT right ascension axis extender.
Thus far the largest scope I¡¯ve had on it is a carbon-fiber RC8. With this scope I get around 75 minutes of imaging on either side of the meridian. Ie., I can start with the scope 75 minutes E while imaging to the west, or image 75 minutes past the meridian when aiming towards the east.
If the RA EXT was about 2 inches ¡®longer¡¯ (or thicker), the saddle would be far enough from the mount that I could probably double the limits to nearly 150 minutes on either side of the meridian.
Years ago I used one of those Boller and Chivens 16 inch cassegrain scopes that had the Dec axis mounted at the end of a long RA shaft. No meridian flips were ever needed. I envy PlaneWave LA-350 mount users not having to do meridian flips, but not enough to drain my bank accounts. :-)
-Kevin
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