Sourcing a tapered aluminium pole in UK

  • 11 May 2018 09:44
    Reply # 6148778 on 3055881
    Deleted user

    I wonder if it's because they think that they may be liable to being sued if the mast failed and someone was injured or died. When used as a lamp post they can no doubt produce screeds of calculations and test reports to prove that the post is fit for purpose so keep their insurance company happy. However when used as a yacht mast stresses would be unknown to them and the first question likely to be asked in the event of an accident would be ' why did you sell the lamp post that you knew would be used as a mast without being able to prove that it would be suitable'.

    I seem to remember something about the Gougeon Bros. stopping selling plans for wing masts because of liability reasons.     


  • 10 May 2018 23:37
    Reply # 6148283 on 3055881
    Deleted user

    How much did the luck few who bought a column from ALC pay for theirs?

    I'm wondering if the way forward is to consider ordering up a batch? I'm guessing that'll be what they need.

    Obviously they have the equipment, treatments and raw materials. Would it not be possible to spec a blank column size that would suit a variety of the most common conversations, e.g. 22' to 28', 28' to 35', with modifications to length being easily made by end users?

    Strikes me what they really want is a bulk order and a distributor to take care of sales, or dare I say, "sails enquiries".

    Should not be difficult to knock up whatever sort of technical drawing or file type they want to work from.

  • 10 May 2018 16:39
    Reply # 6147131 on 3055881
    Deleted user

    Just FYI,

    ALC have recently made the decision to no longer supply one offs for nautical applications, this is the response they send out. They refer to a distributor of theirs, Marwood Electrical, but it say they will only supply stock columns.

    Wonder what happened to make them take such a decision?

    I can understand that handling such enquiries might appear a waste of resources for the effort, ie if they were only selling one at a time. Shame they just won't not have considered an additional 'special order' handling charge instead.

    ----

    From: ALC www.alulight.co.uk

    Thank you very much for your enquiry, on this occasion we would like to decline the opportunity due to the work involved.

    We have previously supplied these, although the decision has been made as a company it is not commercially viable moving forward.

    It would be worth you contacting our distributor Marwood Electrical based in Kent, although they will only be able to supply stock columns.

    http://www.marwoodelectrical.co.uk/

  • 07 Sep 2014 16:24
    Reply # 3094281 on 3055881

    So whose memory isn't elephantine?

  • 29 Aug 2014 18:58
    Reply # 3089058 on 3055881

    "Lliutro".

    The name comes from a novel by Richard Llewellyn; I think from the second in the trilogy in four parts that starts with "How Green was my Valley".

    There may well be some photos in the earlier JRA newsletters.

  • 28 Aug 2014 23:35
    Reply # 3088497 on 3055881
    There are surely some photos of Llutro in earlier JRA magazines.  I seem to remember her being on the cover of one of them.  They might help you work out heights, etc.  (Did I remember her name correctly, I wonder?)  Shame she's not unsinkable, but they are very pretty boats!
  • 28 Aug 2014 19:47
    Reply # 3088359 on 3055881
    sailboatdata.com gives the sail area as 265 ft2 / 24.62 m2, and that kind of rings a bell, but I regret that my memory's not elephantine enough to recall the mast length. At a guess, though, it would have been about 10 or 10.5 metres, as Annie's Fantail needed a mast length of 9.5 metres for a lower aspect ratio sail.

    The mast went in just forward of the head, aft of the forward berths, on the line of the forward bulkhead. 

    For "Sadler 25" read "24 plus rudder". The 26 was a much bigger boat.

    Last modified: 28 Aug 2014 20:01 | Anonymous member
  • 28 Aug 2014 06:30
    Reply # 3088001 on 3055881

    Hi,

     

    David,  I dont suppose you remember the length of mast and sail area you went foforr? Also I havent yet found a profile drawing of an S25 to try to guesstimate CLR,  there doesnt really appear to be much space on the foredeck so I might just have to put the mast where I can. 

     

    Annie, its the 26 thats foam cored and "unsinkable" ,  but alas the extra foot comes at quite a price...

     

     

    regards

    martin 

  • 28 Aug 2014 03:01
    Reply # 3087931 on 3087876
    David Tyler wrote:

    Martin,

    The first mast I had on my bilge keel Sadler 25 (years and years ago) was 127 x 3.2 wall - that was underkill, and I bent it, but only because I flew a light weather sail without a running backstay. I would be quite happy with the 177 mast, if it's long enough.

    Martin: David's Sadler was a lovely, pretty boat and I seem to remember it sailed very well.  I don't think you'd regret following in his footsteps.  And aren't they unsinkable?  Even more of an advantage than a better righting moment :-)
  • 28 Aug 2014 01:02
    Reply # 3087876 on 3055881

    Martin,

    The first mast I had on my bilge keel Sadler 25 (years and years ago) was 127 x 3.2 wall - that was underkill, and I bent it, but only because I flew a light weather sail without a running backstay. I would be quite happy with the 177 mast, if it's long enough.

       " ...there is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in junk-rigged boats" 
                                                               - the Chinese Water Rat

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