DIY spinnaker pole guage.

[Hoohaa]

I'm helping a friend to make his own spinnaker pole. We have the ends but I need some advice on the correct guage for the pole.
The pipe needs an internal diameter of 90mm and we need it to be 3m long.
Does anyone have an idea?
Thanks

[CruiseN]

No idea on construction but whilst tools are at it.
A shorter pole as well can be useful to torque guy eye efficiently and allow a much better tight reach ability. They don't interfere when broadening to run.

My friend mentioned that idea to be last year or year before when planning to cruise the old 24footer but looking for ideas on sheet control because we'd lost winch strength before and didn't wanna buy bigger winches. He used same system on a 40footer he'd just sold. Solved line tension issue whilst encouraging greater eye tension..

[Bellinghamster]

When I built mine, I used 6061 aluminum 11 ga aluminum tubing (3.5" OD, .120 wall, 3.26" ID). It was about 18ft long and worked great all the way across the Pacific (on a CSY44).

I need to make another for our current boat - our existing pole (that came with the boat) is REALLY heavy.... or maybe I'm just 20 years older

[sanibel sailor]

you want tubing rather than pipe.
tubing comes in dimensions
pipe come with a nominal diameter which has only historic reference to its size.

[Hoohaa]

Originally Posted by sanibel sailor

you want tubing rather than pipe.
tubing comes in dimensions
pipe come with a nominal diameter which has only historic reference to its size.

Is this what your saying?
Pipe has quoted ID?
& Tube is quoted OD

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Hoohaa

I'm helping a friend to make his own spinnaker pole. We have the ends but I need some advice on the correct guage for the pole.
The pipe needs an internal diameter of 90mm and we need it to be 3m long.
Does anyone have an idea?
Thanks

No ideas but following as I have to make a new pole myself after I lost the old one overboard.

Any tips on sourcing budget-friendly pole ends?

[sanibel sailor]

Originally Posted by Hoohaa

Is this what your saying?
Pipe has quoted ID?
& Tube is quoted OD

Not quite as pipe has a constant OD per size but ID varies with schedule.
The quoted pipe dimension is nominal. For instance, 2” pipe has an OD of 2-3/8”.

[Spot]

Originally Posted by GILow

No ideas but following as I have to make a new pole myself after I lost the old one overboard.

Any tips on sourcing budget-friendly pole ends?

Those ends seem quite expensive online, I can see why OP's friend wants to makes a new pole with old ends.

[Hoohaa]

Originally Posted by GILow

No ideas but following as I have to make a new pole myself after I lost the old one overboard.

Any tips on sourcing budget-friendly pole ends?

There some forsale here in Sydney at the moment. If you're from around here

[Capt.Don]

Is carbon fiber an option?

A quick google search brought up:

https://www.rockwestcomposites.com/s...ker-pole-group

[CruiseN]

Originally Posted by Spot

Those ends seem quite expensive online, I can see why OP's friend wants to makes a new pole with old ends.

Line expensive too.
Ancient technology although new to me too. Just been searching. Whisker pole names the shorter pole. Noticed some block deck yard to clear stays too but think stuff disturbance to brace. A bit of yard there and a possible rail catch.
Expensive either way if setting up a system of sail points.
We use alloy tube or alloy pipe. :Shrug:
Light, strong, density should float if it goes over, I can't remember but it feels light enough compared to volume.

[StoneCrab]

Originally Posted by Capt.Don

Is carbon fiber an option?

A quick google search brought up:

https://www.rockwestcomposites.com/s...ker-pole-group

looks like 6 foot is the longest that supplier will make in carbon. The site doesn't specify, but are those prices for a 6' length or $ per foot? Normally composites are priced per foot.

One thing to be wary of with carbon fiber is that it is strong until it is not and then it shatters catastrophically, which can be dangerous. It isn't like metal that might bend or fiberglass which may get torn and hairy.

I will watch this thread with interest. I am without a pole currently and share the concern over cost.

I will add that I do know a lot of boats with poles in chocks on the deck which never use their poles. I'd bet that quite a few of those poles are so corroded in the fittings that they can't be taken from the chocks. Maybe an offer to remove the pole would be accepted in exchange for you keeping the pole.

[GILow]

Originally Posted by Hoohaa

There some forsale here in Sydney at the moment. If you're from around here

Any chance you could PM me the details?

[Corvidae]

If you check the nominal dimensions, schedule 10 aluminum pipe is the right thickness. I just made my own using 3.5" schedule 10 and Forespar 3.5" pole ends. Fit like a glove.

Onlinemetals.com sells it here in the states. All the local suppliers had to special order it at a higher price. It's an odd size for any other application, so just about no one keeps it in stock.

[thunderhoof]

I would like to add my vote for the use of carbon fiber for the pole. It usually comes in close to one-third of the weight of aluminum of equivalent stiffness. There are a number of suppliers in Australia.
A few things which apply to either Al or Carbon composite:
Make sure the jaw orientation of the two ends line up closely. This important partly so the bridle hangs correctly, especially under load.
Make sure the ends are cut very square and smoothly so the compression of the jaw pieces onto the tube is uniform.
If you use a double bridle arrangement there is no reason to drill holes in the tube except for two 3mm screws attaching the tube to the fittings at each end. Locate the screws at one half of the flange depth inside the tube. I understand why people countersink the tube holes to use flat head screws but I prefer not to weaken the tube even a little bit so I use Pan-head screws in clear drilled holes into tapped holes (and Locktite) in the fittings.