Found alloy at https://www.aluminiumwarehouse.co.uk   Very good Price and good Postage. Wooden ends / extensions, worked well. The boat is all rigged now and sails well. It has a beautiful cambered sail made by Chris at Exe Sails.  I have put a few pictures on my profile Album called Solitaire. 

Cheers all 

That had gone through my mind to extend them with timber - easy enough. Total is 5770mm so could just extend at the forward end with 770mm of timber or two shorter bits at each end.

Will let you know how it goes.

David - thanks i just looked at your fine photos of Footprints and that is a nice way to finish the batten ends and and gets around my short batten issue.

Dan

I think David’s way of making hybrid aluminium-wood battens sounds brilliant. That combination builds in most of the flexibility and lightness of aluminium, which is needed in the central section to avoid breaking battens in a half-long, accidental gybe. As with the hybrid wood-aluminium masts, one also gets to the result with minimum fuss and cost. I guess I would add a grp bandage at the joints to beef them um just a little.

Arne

Thanks for that Peter, Sorry forgot to say that yes in UK. I will give them a go.

Cheers

Hello, 

Can anyone recomend a supplier of alloy tube for use as battens? Length is 5800mm - I have found several suppliers that have 5000mm in stock but none with 6000mm stock?!

Thanks

Dan