Sparring Partners

[Chris Waite]

After Jeremy directed me to MG Metals near Southampton -

As part of 'In the Black Stuff' above, I wrote an e-mail to him to check up what specs I would need for the alloy version of the spar I am after.  As is his wont, he came back with some good information on types and thicknesses; nearly too much for a simple bodger like me, but seriously good.

Also mentioned were things like old windsurfer masts to cut down and this was another lead I have been following.  There are windsurfer shops in Worthing and West Wittering in this area of Sussex, but they are not in the business of slipping you old rubbish cheap when they could be selling you new stuff at ten times the price, so they didn't help much.  However, I happened to ask a lad serving in one of the chandlers in Emsworth and he told me of a Windsurfer Car Boot Sale - the first Sunday in every month, starting 08.30 by the Fun Fair on Hayling Island sea front.

He's right; there is

And lunchtime today, I am the proud owner of two, used, carbon-fibre, two-section masts one for the princely sum of £10 and the other a stonking £20, so I have the spars for mistress 'Pee Dubs'.

So the next queston is, (Jeremy):

I am aware that carbon fibre has some strange properties, apparently it becomes shattered when things get to be too much to bear - know the feeling?  Anyway, how do you attach stuff to it?  The last windsurfer spar I misused was only GRP and to fix an eye for a halyard, I whipped some 6mm polyester rope round it in fresh epoxy, including taking a few turns round a stainless, hard eye and allowed it all to set - that has worked quite well.  What happens if you self tap or nut and bolt, with or without a backing pad?

All thoughts welcome

CeeDubbaya

(Incidentally, the guys at the sale pointed out that old half sections of masts - of sailing canoe sort of size - are two a penny as they are usless to any self respecting windsurfer.  However, there weren't any there; presumably as nobody thinks anybody wants them....)

Off we all trot to the next sale then

[BrianP]

Chris, I found various plastic mast and boom fitting which fitted the ID of my tubes. Mainly Opi one.



In the picture the 50mm OD tube on the left has an Opi plastic mast foot glued in. I could then just drill a hole through it or put a screw in the end to make an outhaul.  The spar on the right is 20mm OD Opi spar fitting glued in.

All mainsheet and kicker controls were hung off the boom using sewn webbing.



The sail track was from Hayling. Glued on with Sikaflex. I will try to dig out which one. It's not the standard one but a special one for plastic to epoxy carbon tubes.

Great fun searching out the best bits.

Brian

[tony waller]

Hi Chris

You may remember that I use carbon fibre spars on my 1000-year-old design (shock horror). Epoxy sticks well to it.

You’re correct about it shattering. If any bolt were used (I am doubtful about drilling and tapping) you would need lots of rubber washes both sides, I suspect. Tony

 

From: Chris Waite [via UK HBBR Forum] [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: 05 August 2012 14:26
To: tony waller
Subject: Sparring Partners

 

After Jeremy directed me to MG Metals near Southampton -

As part of 'In the Black Stuff' above, I wrote an e-mail to him to check up what specs I would need for the alloy version of the spar I am after.  As is his wont, he came back with some good information on types and thicknesses; nearly too much for a simple bodger like me, but seriously good.

Also mentioned were things like old windsurfer masts to cut down and this was another lead I have been following.  There are windsurfer shops in Worthing and West Wittering in this area of Sussex, but they are not in the business of slipping you old rubbish cheap when they could be selling you new stuff at ten times the price, so they didn't help much.  However, I happened to ask a lad serving in one of the chandlers in Emsworth and he told me of a Windsurfer Car Boot Sale - the first Sunday in every month, starting 08.30 by the Fun Fair on Hayling Island sea front.

He's right; there is

And lunchtime today, I am the proud owner of two, used, carbon-fibre, two-section masts one for the princely sum of £10 and the other a stonking £20, so I have the spars for mistress 'Pee Dubs'.

So the next queston is, (Jeremy):

I am aware that carbon fibre has some strange properties, apparently it becomes shattered when things get to be too much to bear - know the feeling?  Anyway, how do you attach stuff to it?  The last windsurfer spar I misused was only GRP and to fix an eye for a halyard, I whipped some 6mm polyester rope round it in fresh epoxy, including taking a few turns round a stainless, hard eye and allowed it all to set - that has worked quite well.  What happens if you self tap or nut and bolt, with or without a backing pad?

All thoughts welcome

CeeDubbaya

(Incidentally, the guys at the sale pointed out that old half sections of masts - of sailing canoe sort of size - are two a penny as they are usless to any self respecting windsurfer.  However, there weren't any there; presumably as nobody thinks anybody wants them....)

Off we all trot to the next sale then

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