Roy Lewallen wrote in
treetonline:

Here's one data point:

I've had four unguyed verticals about 32' high in my back yard for
over 20 years. They've survived gusts of at least 75 mph in a couple
of storms, but we've never had sustained winds of that level while
they've been up. They're made from 6061-T6 aluminum, 1-1/4, 1-1/8, and
1 inch diameter. The pieces are 12 feet each, so the overlap is about
2 feet. For mounting, I drove an 8 foot chain-link fence line post 4
feet into the ground, then clamped the antenna to it with muffler
clamps -- long U bolts. Some pieces of 1/4" wall PVC pipe sawed
lengthwise are used for insulation.

A 30 foot antenna will have a high angle of radiation -- about 40
degrees above the horizon at maximum -- on 10 meters. A 23 foot
antenna will have a high lobe on 10, but decent radiation at lower
angles also. A few minutes with any antenna modeling program including
the free EZNEC demo program from http://eznec.com and the Vert1
example file will give you a good idea of what to expect.

Roy Lewallen, W7EL


Thanks for that info, Roy. I will finally download that demo software
and try it within the next 24 hours. Also, I appreciate the comments on
the other. While I can't easily get 12 foot sections, I'm sure I'll do
ok with the 6 foot sections. Here on the Oregon Coast we get storms with
sustained winds exceeding 75MPH sometimes. I would lower any antenna if
NWS were to suggest such a storm was approaching, but I'd like to have
confidence with the antenna if some gusts reached that speed on rare
occasion.

The high takeoff for 75M would be fine as most of my work in that
band would be within the State of Oregon, anyway.

Ed K7AAT