Mast replacement

S

saor410

New Member
I seem to remember so time ago that someone posted the size, alloy, and temper of the commercial aluminum tubing used in the Sunfish mast. Can anyone help me out here? Thanks
 
Keep in mind that you will need to get the tube anodized or the mast, your sail, hands, and anything the mast touches will turn black, and fast.

To solve this, I have previously suggested using a tree trunk of the appropriate diameter as a mast, but no one has taken me up on that idea yet.

BB
 
I am pretty sure that Lasers and Sunfishes use the same tubing to fabricate masts. Consequently, I searched the Laser Forum and found the following thread that is relevant:

http://www.laserforum.org/showthread.php?t=7350

But as BB already pointed out, making your own mast may not save you any money unless you have an inexpensive way to anodize :eek:
 
beldar boathead said:
Keep in mind that you will need to get the tube anodized . . .
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Wavedancer said:
. . . But as BB already pointed out, making your own mast may not save you any money unless you have an inexpensive way to anodize :eek:
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Um..., Clear anodizing is simply an attribute you specify when ordering aircraft grade 6061 or 6063 aluminum tubing.

I think the confusion comes because people see they can also order non-anodized tubing at a slightly lower cost, but for this and most typical applications for this grade tube, anodized is the norm.

You definitely don't want to get into after market anodizing unless you are going to do your own dye job and the expense is superfluous to your goal. It takes a tank (length of PVC pipe) long enough to immerse the tube, making it the "anode " in an electrolytic reaction to seal the micro-surface layer against corrosion.


How is aluminum anodized and colored?
- Two different processes which can be combined -

http://www2.ucdsb.on.ca/tiss/stretton/chem3/Lab_22_Anodizing_Aluminum.html


AnodizedTitanium006.jpg


Certainly less costly done in bulk at the extruder plant.

top-five-questions-about-anodizing-architectural-tube-anodizing-process.jpg



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beldar boathead said:
To solve this, I have previously suggested using a tree trunk of the appropriate diameter as a mast, but no one has taken me up on that idea yet.
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I worked with a guy in NZ over the winter (our winter) who used appropriately sized Bamboo instead of aluminum tube. Initial reports were, the bamboo was holding up quite well. I'm hoping for an update next season.

;) . . . getting back to the lateen sailing craft roots ... as it were.

kiribati+proa+small.jpg
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saor410 said:
I seem to remember so time ago that someone posted the size, alloy, and temper of the commercial aluminum tubing used in the Sunfish mast. Can anyone help me out here? Thanks
Click to expand...

I have a black Sunfish mast for sale I'll let you have cheap, if you can pick it up in Connecticut.
 
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