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Abdullah,
My favourite sidewalk astronomy venue is the promenade along Coogee Beach here in Sydney. I have taken my 8" f/4 dob, ED80 refractor and an SCT there. BUT I am very careful about this.
Like everyone in astro I do look after my gear. I most certainly understand how sea spray and telescopes are not a good mix. I also cannot totally avoid sea spray because I live not a 2minute drive from the beach. So dealing with such coastal conditions are very pertinent to me.
When I do go down to Coogee beach, FIRST and foremost is the wind direction. If it is a sea breeze, not a chance. It has to be a shore wind. It is the only way to avoid a strong dose of sea spray.
Living on the coast has also had an impact on the types of scopes I use at home. While I LOVE my Newts, I use them sparingly from home because they are open tube instruments - the mirrors are totally exposed. The scopes I most use at home are my Maks and refractors. I have been using Maks and SCT's from home for more than 25 years now. These closed tube systems by far keep the mirrors in as good condition as using them anywhere else.
A few years ago I had to the chance to buy an outstanding 10" Takahashi Mewlon, and the ONLY reason I did not buy it was because it was an open tube OTA, and with my main fare from home is lunar and planetary, the optics of this outstanding instrument would be stuffed all too soon. I've stuck with Maks since.
Another thing to be aware of with sea spray is not just the optics but also the screws used in these scopes are just plated steel, and of questionable plating quality. It is these screws that will rust before anything else. You really need to be fastidious in how you look after your gear, how your clean it before stowing, and the conditions in which it is stored. I have seen poorly looked after scopes with as much rust on them as the Titanic. Sensitive electronics also do not like sea spray. If sea spray settles on the scope, unless you are meticulous at cleaning this of straight away, every time dew condenses on the scope, mount and what ever gear you have, capillary action will keep pulling that little bit of salt deeper and deeper into your gear. The consequences of sea spray are not just on the one night, but can be long term.
If you do take a scope with you to the beach, you will need to consider the risks involved for the long-term longevity. You may be better off taking a nice set of binos. You will be able to make better use of them during the day too. Binos are outstanding astro instruments too - they really are.
Alex.
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