Hi David,

That is good to know. Escrow looks quite reliable and glad it works! I think I'll ask whether the company uses Escrow before venturing into any discussion.

Best wishes

Roger

FYI

In reply to David Webb's email, when I asked that Alibaba based company the below question.......

Regarding payment, are you familiar with Escrow?

http://www.alibaba.com/help/safety_security/products/escrow/how.html

Escrow looks like a safe way to pay.

...... they suddenly were not able to produce a mast to my specs.

Before I asked that question they were willing to make an anodised 12 meter mast, 250 bottom OD and 90mm top OD 5mm thick, and accept a direct payment into their account.

When I asked what the mast weighed, they 'estimated' 70-80kg, which seems a bit light to me.

When asked if they can anodize in white colour, they said can only do clear anodizing.

When I mentioned ESCROW to other Alibaba companies, they also seemed to lose interest in my business.

My gut feeling is that the companies are OK but Escrow puts them off. (perhaps Escrow charges a levy?)

Has anyone done business through Alibaba before?

Thank you David, I'll look them up.

Hi Annie, yes, I realize the masts are galvanized inside, but galv does eventually rust too, so 'goop' or Fisholine is hopefully a good remedy.

As David and others suggest, 5mm Aluminum is probably a better option altogether. It seems to work okay on the Freedom rigs.

In China I saw a 600 year old temple made out of Bamboo. It has its merits.

Roger Scott wrote:Thank you David. Have chatted with Paul. Not sure if his templates are ideal for Shoestring. My gut feeling is La Chica is a very different boat and different rig. Am considering bamboo for more strength, floatation and dulling the halyard/ rain noise. Need to make sure bamboo is dried and treated. If I manage to complete tabernacle dream, can exchange bamboo if needed, or use mast to store spare battens!

Then seal it - you can use one of many goops rather than welding it.  That way, moisture won't get in or out.  And it will float. 

The bamboo will most certainly not add to the strength of the mast - but will add to its weight.

The rain noise is a non issue.  It's a mast, not a roof.  I would follow David's (and lots of other people's) idea and use the self-expanding foam around the conduit.

You've got bamboo on the brain and are beginning to get a little bamboozled by it, I think :-D

Hi Roger, the usual method of preventing rust to the steel and providing support for a conduit is to use pour in place foam with a PVC conduit in the center for any wires that may need to be routed to the top of the mast. This also has the advantage of dulling the ring of anything hitting the mast. I believe that Paul on La Chica used this method so a talk to him could be of some assistance.

All the best, David.