Tom: 

I too wish I had a tower and beam. 
When I had an A-3S from 2003 to 2007, I though it was the cat's you know what. LOL 
I pretty much could pull out anything I heard and had a TS-940SAT/Heath SB-1000 1KW amp combo and I was heard. LOL 
Like you though, the crew that was willing to help either moved on or got tired of helping me tighten up something either on the tower or beam antenna or even wire and just no longer had the time. 
I was also a little bit of a victim of a half hearted job, just get it done for mike and be back again in 6 months. LOL 
So when hurricane Leslie took down my tower and windom in October of 2012, I made it a point to put back an antenna system that me and my XYL, who isn't a ham, could handle. 
Of course, 1ST, I had to build a shack because my sister moved back home with my parents and claimed my shack as part of the renovated basement apartment. LOL 
So we had to build a cottage this past summer and its about 85% complete, really warm and dry and of course, has a shack. LOL 
If you look me up on QRZ, you can get your XYL to point out the antenna to you and if you log in and view my bio, there's a pic of the station. 
Starting on the right, the AL-811H, SP-102P matching speaker for the rig, FT-102, then MFJ-986 tuner. 
I use a Heil Pro Micro Duel with the HC-6. 
Good luck on the amp project and btw, I called you a few times yesterday evening but I guess there were too many louder stations close. 
You were 58 in NF. 

73: 
Mike VO1AX