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The Nite's Cape(sm)
Telescope Cover
Nite I's is producing
some custom telescope covers. These covers are made from very
rugged material. So rugged that it comes with a 4 year
Limited Warranty. The fabric is warranted against
loss of color or strength from normal exposure conditions, including:
sunlight
mildew
rot &
atmospheric chemicals
These are not shiny polyester bags that tend to crumble within
a year because they cannot stand up to the sun, wind and rain. These are rugged
telescope covers to give you a beautiful Nite's Cape(sm)
viewing (sorry 'bout that, but we couldn't resist).
Here are just a few of the reasons we are proud of our Nite's
Cape(sm) design:
-
The Nite's Cape(sm)
is made of the same material used in boat tarps.
-
The Nite's Cape(sm)
has a zipper to aid in the installation and removal of the cape.
-
There is no seam on the top of the Nite's
Cape(sm).
-
The Nite's Cape(sm)
is made from a white material to keep the scope cooler in the sun.
-
The Nite's Cape(sm)comes
with a polypropolene strap and plastic buckles instead of an elastic
band.
-
Each Nite's Cape(sm)
is custom sewed.
-
Each Nite's Cape(sm)
is made in the U.S.A.
Here
is a picture of our 12-inch SCT Telescope on which we have been testing the
Nite's Cape(sm).
This image was taken in a 15 knot wind. We regularly have a stiff offshore
morning breeze of about 10-20 knots, followed in the afternoon by a reciprocal
onshore breeze of about 10-20 knots. The breeze is often accompanied by dust
and dirt. While rain is rare in the Southern California desert, the temperature
does drop often to near 0C (32F) in the evening, after baking at 40C (106F)
during the day. There is often a great deal of moisture from the onshore marine
layer in the morning. No matter how you try to cut it, it is a pretty harsh
environment for a fabric cover to survive.
In testing our Nite's Cape(sm)
against the competition, we often went through two of the shiny-plastic covers
a year at a cost of $45 each. That is ten-bucks short of a hundred dollars
a year in covers. If you experience kadibatic winds, as we do here in the
desert southwest (the local name for these is a Santa Ana wind) then you know
that the shiny-plastic covers just won't hold up in the wind. We could rip
a shiny-plastic bag in less than a day of 80 KPH (50 MPH) winds. In comparison
the Nite's Cape(sm)
barely moves in the wind.
But it isn't heavy. Stiff and rugged, but not heavy. It comes
in a beautiful white color with a striking red strap. It is very nice to look
at during the day.
All good stuff! But what about the cost? The
cost of the Nite's Cape(sm)
depends on the size of the scope you are going to cover. We currently are
producing three capes from patterns made for fork mounted telescopes (like
an ETX-70/90/125) for a cost of $90.00(US). For the 8/10/12/14-inch (non GPS)
fork mounted telescopes the cost is $125.00(US). And for the 14-inch GPS scopes
it is $150.00(US). Prices do not include shipping and tax (if any) of course.
Remember the fabric (not the nylon strap*)
is warranted for 4-years. Do the math! Here is how it breaks down:
| Nite's Cape(sm)
Pattern Size |
Price Per Cape
|
4-year Cost Per Cape
|
| Nite's Cape(sm)
for a 5-inch fork mounted telescope |
$90.00
|
$22.50
|
| Nite's Cape(sm)
for a 10/12-inch fork mounted telescope |
$125.00
|
$31.25
|
| Nite's Cape(sm)
for a 14-inch fork mounted GPS telescope |
$150.00
|
$37.50
|
*The polypropolene straps can
be purchased separately for a cost of $10.00(US) each. These are rugged, heavy-duty
straps with buckles. We used plastic buckles to prevent rust and to keep any
damage that the buckle might do, from flopping around, to a minimum.
To order one of these, you can use the
.
For custom made covers, please send an
with a phone number and we'll return your call to get exact specifications.
Larger scopes and Dobsonian scopes can be accommodated, but
you need to contact us for pricing and specifications.
Just click
here to send your request.
All specifications and materials are subject
to change without notice.