Thank you all for the responses. Graeme, the thread you started about mast height is very useful. I understood that halyard 'drift' was what I needed to consider but I was not sure exactly how to quantify it.
I found a local metal supplier with a price that seems more reasonable. I am just about to commit some boat budget money to 1.5" OD 0.065" wall 6061-T6 aluminium tube.
I think I am calculating the yield strength (is that the right term?) properly thanks to the newest chapter of TCPJR. But my formal education is in volts and amps and bits and bytes so there is a good chance I did something wrong. If someone could double check I would appreciate it.
Yield of Arne's proposed 25mm OD and 2mm wall battens: 21.68 kpm
Yield of the 1.5" (38.1mm) OD and 0.065" (1.651mm) wall tube: 46.48 kpm
The sales person said they weigh about 5 lbs each.
I think I am good to go. Any other thoughts?