Hi Dave,
Have you also thought about the 12" Meade Lightbridge or the Orion
Intelliscope ?
http://www.telescope.com/control/pro...oduct_id=09793
I haven't seen the latter, but looks pretty good.
As for the shroud, you could knock one up by sewing a plastic or wire band at the centre to stop it from straying into the light path. Checkout Astrozap's website, they may have one now for the Skywatcher. Alternatively if u go the Meade path, PM me I have one available
.
Cheers,
Norm