Anonymous wrote:
I'm sure this topic has been done to death but it's difficult to find relevant posts.
The search on these forums is quite good, Andrew. Yes, the topic has been discussed at length.
The main issue is funds.
Yes, you're certainly not alone there!
Graham suggests 200mm dia. at the partners, tapered, and it'll be approx 10-11 metres tall.
That certainly sounds about right, for a wooden mast. Aluminium could be smaller in diameter.
I don't even know where to start looking, obviously straight tubing is easy to get, although expensive.
Well, not in those lengths, it isn't. You can get up to 6m easily enough. This is why the hybrid mast is quite popular - An aluminium tube with a wooden top mast section. Again, a search on this forum would bring up a load of information.
Is there any reason why I couldn't use an old hefty yacht mast, trimmed to length, if I could find one? is it an issue of strength when you take away the effects of the rigging?
No, that should work just fine, assuming it's hefty enough. Have you looked at the mast dimensions outlined in Practical Junk Rig?