OK, which model Ten Tecs, then?
My old Ten-Tec 525 Argosy has the circuits mounted on a center panel so there is a fair bit
of clearance between them and the metal covers. That allows the covers to take quite a
dent before affecting the electronics (other than the speaker perhaps.) I don't know
how many of their later rigs followed this construction method.
The weak point of many of the older Ten-Tec rigs, however, was the shaft that drives the
tuning slug. The one on my Argonaut failed when it was tossed into a float plane flying between
logging camps in Alaska and took a direct hit on the tuning knob, which stripped out the plastic
gears. Had to order a replacement coil assembly from Ten-Tec, then solder the circuit boards
back together with a propane torch (which was the only soldering implement available in a
logging camp.) But even in that remote location I had it back on the air in 10 days, and it
still works fine.
So part of the consideration might be how difficult the rig is to repair after sustaining damage.
Replacing a speaker, for example, is easier than fixing a cracked display panel or circuit board.
You might also consider how you can improve the ruggedness of a radio - for example, adding
a ring of PVC pipe as a guard around the tuning dial of the Argosy would make it much less
prone to damage, as otherwise it is a pretty reliable rig.
