Spinnaker Poles...Why so Expensive?

[Jimbo485]

On our previous boat, we used a length of bamboo. On our current boat, we use a 24' beam instead of a pole.

Pay up or get creative!

[rhr1956]

UPDATE! In case this might help anyone...I found Metal Supermarkets locally here in Dallas. I bought an 11 foot 2-1/2" O.D. alluminum tube 6061 T6 in .065 wall thickness for $44. The same tube from marine stores online was as high as $253 with a shipping charges of over $100. So with a couple of end fittings from West Marine for $104 each, I will have a "store bought" type spinnaker pole for $250. I think thats a pretty good outcome.

[dandrews]

Originally Posted by rhr1956

UPDATE! In case this might help anyone...I found Metal Supermarkets locally here in Dallas. I bought an 11 foot 2-1/2" O.D. alluminum tube 6061 T6 in .065 wall thickness for $44. The same tube from marine stores online was as high as $253 with a shipping charges of over $100. So with a couple of end fittings from West Marine for $104 each, I will have a "store bought" type spinnaker pole for $250. I think thats a pretty good outcome.

Outstanding!

Don

[Pete7]

Oh bollicks

"Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you will destroy a good business opportunity"

Guess I won't be shipping poles to the colonies then

[kbudd]

I bought a 17ft 4" dia spinnaker pole on ebay for $125 and had it shipped to me for another $100. I have made poles for other people by buying the ends on ebay and getting the tubing from a local supplier. There are a bunch of end fittings on ebay right now.

[joemac4sail]

The problem for me is also the high cost of the pole fittings. I'm currently searching for a harken bell socket for a pole and I can't get over the cost of the bloody thing. Basically it's made of 3 pieces of cast metal and a spring. Unfortunately there are not to many Boat salvage yards in this neck of the woods.

[rhr1956]

I'm ready to attach the end fittings to the aluminum pole. There is a label on the fittings that say "Use machine screws only for attachment to pole". On the website (forespar) they have pole kits which include epoxy for attachment of end fittings. Not really sure why it makes much difference. Originally I planned to epoxy the fittings to the pole and follow up with three aluminun pop rivets. What do you think?

[wristwister]

Originally Posted by rhr1956

UPDATE! In case this might help anyone...I found Metal Supermarkets locally here in Dallas. I bought an 11 foot 2-1/2" O.D. alluminum tube 6061 T6 in .065 wall thickness for $44. The same tube from marine stores online was as high as $253 with a shipping charges of over $100. So with a couple of end fittings from West Marine for $104 each, I will have a "store bought" type spinnaker pole for $250. I think thats a pretty good outcome.

I did almost exactly the same thing. 10.5' 6061 T6 tube from Online Metals for $50 or so, then I scored on two new Seldon end fittings at the used marine parts place for $85 for the pair, then another $40 or so for the cable, fittings, bits and pieces to make up the bridles and trigger line, and I'm in for under $200. ... 'course, right after I built it I found the perfect used carbon fiber pole on Craigslist for $150!

[sarafina]

We see them all the time, practically being given away, at marine swap meets.

Go look at used ones!

Or watch craigslist;

http://www.searchtempest.com/results...sk=&subcat=boa