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
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:
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.
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.
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