Mast Hoop question

[David Haddock]

Thanks for the replies and insight!

[capt jake]

OK, just talked to Paul; if you use his sails you will need 6 hoops to complete your venture!!!!

I guess I need to make one more!!!

[Sailor3356]

Ray, were did you get the beads?

[Sailor3356]

Haven't seen those car seats in years. Well I havn't gone looking. But its a good idea and I'll have to see if I can find one. Thanks

[Barry Pyeatt]

Johannah found a couple of the car seat pads on e-bay and then took them apart.

I had called several of the second hand stores and found a couple of the seat pads at a Goodwill for $2.50.

After getting them I sanded them lightly and coated them with epoxy to help them wear.

[Sailor3356]

Barry, Goodwill is a good idea. I'll try them tonight. Thanks

[capt jake]

Car swap meets are also a good place to look. My mom picked up the beads for me this way.

[Pat Mellema]

sailor 3356

I think I hace about 4 coffee cans of them around here somewhere.

[Sailor3356]

Oh wow Pat, didn't know you had some. Have to get em from you.

[tdrown]

You can get a number of things at the junkyard that would do nicely on a boat. Batteries, a windsheald-wiper motor is probably powerful enough for a trolling motor, running lights for a cabin, fuses, trailer hitches, et cetera. For a mement I was thinking about adding leather Cadillac seats, but of course they would be too big and would deteriorate.

[Derek]

Newly made mast hoops, and again, another thanks to Capt. Jake for the beads. Now he only has enough left for 30 more hoops.

[Mike Pennington]

Derek,

Nice Pic, I see the join, but I still don't understand how or what tool you used to do the job. More pics Please! The join of the cable is what has kept me from using beads previously. Mike

[Arnie Eaton]

Mike, you need a swaging tool. This tool will squeeze the round hollow tube that you stick the ends of the wire in tight and join the wire ends. You can see the tubes in the above picture.

[Derek]

Didn't have one myself. Jake and I actually made these standing in West Marine in their rigging section. They have the swagging tool and cutters and all fittings necessary for this and were more than willing to let us use their facility.

[Russ Sylvester]

So, does anyone have any beads left over that they want to unload? I took a close look at my rope 'hoops' this last weekend and they're looking pretty ratty. Willing to pay for them. Email me offline if needed.

[Sailor3356]

If you can't find any beads you can buy em here http://www.woodnshop.com/CRAFT_BALLS_BALL_KNOBS_BEADS.htm

But I would look around at the Salvation Army stores and swop shops.

[Bipolar]

Looking for bamboo mast hoops in Maine or any mail order. Any ideas? 
 

will

[Brucel]

Do a search for 6 inch wooden rings. Wooden rings usually used for crafts might be strong enough for mast hoops. I've found the best thing for attaching the gaff rig on my Weekender is rope lacing. I think the zig-zag lacing works best. As the gaff falls it loosens each lace in turn and it comes down quickly. Especially useful when coming up to the dock. Google mast lacing and switch to images and you'll see lots of ways to attach the sail with nothing more than a 1/4 inch rope.