Website for marine metals and aluminum tubing

[Travis Votaw]

The enclosed url is for a company in New Orleans and Virginia that stocks a pretty good selection of aluminum 6061-T6 tubing. I'm planning on ordering some 3.5 od and 3 od .125 wall tubing for the Princess 22 that Charlie Jones is building for me. They list smaller od sizes that are in the .083 wall thickness. Don't know if they have it in stock, though. We have not been able to locate any 3.5 od x .083 wall in the 6061-T6 aluminum. Graham has given his blessing for using the .125 wall. This extra strength sounds good to me since I plan to run the mizzen staysail on occasion. Y'all may recall that the masts will be combined aluminum lower and birdsmouth fir upper - don't know what the exact ratio will be yet till we clear it again with Graham. I'm having to buy 20' joints, so will have two pretty sizable pieces left over.

Sail On! TV

http://www.metalsalesusa.com/

[Aaron_G]

I'm looking at Metal Supermarkets (http://www.metalsupermarkets.com) for my masts. They have locations across the country and in canada (see the store finder on their website). I'm looking at them because they have a store here in portland. Here is what I was quoted (for my CS 17):

2 1/4" x .065" Drawn, Seamless aluminum 6061-T6 $8.71/ft

2 1/2" x .083" Drawn, seamless alumimun 6061-T6 $10.43/ft

2 1/2 x .125" extruded seamless aluminum 6061-6511 $7.18/ft

Do these prices sound about right (considering I won't have to pay shipping)?

[Travis Votaw]

I was quoted $137.40 for the 3"od .125 20' long and $153.00 for 20' joint of 3.5"od. This does not include the shipping charges. Best shippinig cost I've found is $116.51 from New Orleans to Victoria, TX. This totals up to $406.91 for the two pieces. I will probably have about 8 to 10 feet of each size left over. I'm going to check the website you gave to see what they have. Thanks, TV.

[Travis Votaw]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I just made a deal with them in Oklahoma City where I live to get the pipe for the masts. They will sell me 12' pieces of 3.5" od and 3" od by .125 wall thickness 6061-T6 tubing for $199.01 if I pick it up.

I can't believe I called all over the US looking for this pipe and finally found it right here where I live They had to order in the 3.5 od and will have it in on Thursday. They had the 3 od in stock. I will pick it up and take it to Victoria, TX to Charlie AND get to see my Princess :wink: Including gasoline cost for delivering the pipe, I will still save around $100.00. I might be a little excited

Sail ON!

TV

[Scott Dufour]

For people near the East Coast of the US of A, Yarde Metals is a good source for the extruded Al tubes. They carry the right thicknesses, although only in 12' lenghts. It's where I plan on getting mine.

http://www.yarde.com/company.htm

[Joe Nelson CS#35]

Try Online Metals http://www.onlinemetals.com/index.cfm

They have 8' sections of 2.5" .065 for around $41 and can be shipped UPS.

[Aaron_G]

thanks for the link--online metals was cheaper than the local metalsupermarkets, even with shipping.

Does anyone use 1 piece masts for their Core Sounds? I was wondering how one would make a mast with sail tracks if the mast were in sections with different ODs. I'm still trying to figure out which configuration I want. I like the simple sleeve version of the sails, but wonder how one would reef a sail like that.

[Garry]

Aaron, Check with Graham. He is sending me a version of the Spindrift sail with one set of reef points. The sleeve will be cut away at the clew to let it bunch up when reefed. The top of the sleeve is open with a grommet for a halyard to attach. The halyard runs over the top of the mast and down inside the sleeve to a cleat.

I would think the same would be possible for yours. I guess a strap or two could be added to replace the part of the sleeve that was cut away.

[Joe Nelson CS#35]

Graham said previously that some have used aluminum flag poles. I could not find one that met the specifications. I too would prefer a one piece mast...even without a sailtrack. Sailtracks have been used on the 3 piece spar...so it is not out of the question.

[PJPiercey]

I built my masts from Online Metals aluminum. I used 3" dia .125" wall for the bottom section, 2.5" dia .065 wall for the mid section, and North Sail aluminum windsurf mast tips for the top section.

I went with a three piece mast but could have easily made the joins permanent for a one piece.

After a month of sailing on the Adriatic Sea the mast seem "bullet proof" Going with a three piece mast allowed me to use heavy material at the base and very light at the top, the way a mast should be A sail track would be nice, the snotter pully can be a little aggrevating with the lacings. The lacings work just fine though.

Paul Piercey