[thegableguy (Chris)]

Skywatcher 200P OTA for $250. Great bargain for someone looking to upgrade on the cheap.

First, the good news:
- optics are fine, mirrors recently (very carefully) cleaned
- red dot finder, 8x50mm straight through finder included
- dovetail & rings included
- 9v electric focuser included
- 25mm & 9mm eyepieces included

Reasons why it's cheap:
- outer OTA surface is a bit scratched from rotating in the rings (doesn't affect performance)
- mirror cell cover is held on via electrical tape; when I bought it, two of the three little screws holding it on had sheared off so I had to drill them out and now the holes have no thread. Perfectly fixable if it bothers you
- only a single-speed Crayford focuser, as opposed to the new 10:1 versions on the current models

Even with those caveats it still represents a bargain considering the current new model costs $799 without red dot finder, eyepieces or motorised focuser.

The photo of the primary mirror is edited heavily to show up any scratches, ie there aren't any, just a tiny little bit of dust.

$250. The deal I struck with my wife is to sell this, buy the guiding package I really should have bought in the first place, and then I get another reflector for Christmas.

Pickup from NSW Central Coast, or I might be able to meet you in Sydney. Not looking at posting for now.

PM with any questions.