Do U know where to buy fiberglass rods in Langkawi, Malaysia ?

[Kiss2016]

Do you know where I could find fiberglass rods around Kuah ?

Thanks

[UNCIVILIZED]

If naught else turns up, you could query the yards & riggers in your area. Who either use them, or could purchase them at a good rate. Or get them added to a special order fairly easily, even if the order is from overseas.
Some of it depends upon what sort you're after, & what they're to be used for. What's the application, & specification?

[Kiss2016]

I want to use these rods to give a shape to my bimini.

I came to realise that there is a premium to pay when you buy as a boat owner. The same material can cost 2 or 3 times the regular price if you buy it from a chandlery or shipyard. This is why I try to find it outside the boat businesses.

But, hey, sometimes you have no choice and buy it where you find it !

Thanks for the advice.

[UNCIVILIZED]

You could lay up your own. And it's likely that you could tune the Bimini so that they don't have to be round. Which would give you a lot more latitude in terms of what you use, buy, or build, in terms of "rods". Much of it will depend on what they're meant to connect with on their ends, & also, how much stiffness or flexibility you need.

You might also look at:
- FRP Stock, Battens, or Sheet. Or even Aluminum, or other metal battens/stock.
- Sail battens: Wood, Fiberglass, Carbon Fiber, etc. Or any combination of these materials. Be they store bought, or DIY.
- Pipe/Tubing. Be it Aluminum, Fiberglass, PVC, or Other.
- Bamboo, & similar natural, pre-made structures/structural bits.

So the options are limited mostly by imagination, more than $. And there are likely to be dozens of choices on sight (locally), cheap. Just look for the equivalent strength & stiffness in non-marine shopping locations in order to keep the price low.
Hope that helps.

Edit: Even bundles of small diameter tubes siezed together at intervals would work. As they form a macro equivalent of laminated parallel glass fibers. And wood is mostly just a bunch of micro diameter tubes bundled together in parallel in it's natural form.

Remember the bow Arnold made this way from siezed together bundled reeds in Predator?

[senormechanico]

Look for a tent dealer.
Lots of flexible hollow fiberglass rods with bungie cords through them for quick setup/knockdown.
We used some of them and just removed the bungie stuff and used adhesive to make long rods for our use.

[Kiss2016]

Thanks again for the advices. It is true that there are more options than the fiberglass rods.

I will shop with a different eye next time. This morning, I was only looking for fiberglass rods. I didn't have an open mind to other solutions (tunnel vision).

I had lunch with a few yachties and one pointed out to me a young sailmaker, right here in Kuah. Battens could do the job but are sometimes expensives. I went to his shop on my way back to the boat but he was closed. Next time, I will leave him a message and I will also ask him to quote for a new mizzen that I need.

As for a tent dealer, Thomas, I must say that camping is not much into malay's culture and there is no outdoor store in Langkawi. Maybe there are some in Kuala Lumpur. I will look into it if I don't find a solution here and have to go back to KL.

Thanks both of you for the support. It is appreciated.

[Alan Mighty]

Originally Posted by Kiss2016

As for a tent dealer, Thomas, I must say that camping is not much into malay's culture and there is no outdoor store in Langkawi. Maybe there are some in Kuala Lumpur. I will look into it if I don't find a solution here and have to go back to KL.

Nonsense.


Malaysians, whether Malay, Indian, Chinese, Eurasian, etc are quite familiar with camping and outdoor activities. Young Malaysians of all ethnic groups are into camping, rock climbing, bushwalking etc. On most any public holiday you will find find people camping on beaches, around forest water holes, and so on


And you should be able to find De Store at Pantai Cenang on Langkawi. More outdoor stores on the mainland, of course.


For starters, point your browser to:
<http://www.outdoordynamics.com.my/main.php?section=dealer&page=dealer_index>

[brianlara 3]

Glass rods are used extensively in the Gougeon Brothers book. West System Boat Building.
A WEST SYSTEM dealer in Thailand or Singapore might be a poss. Maybe KL.
ATL Composites in Oz would send them I'd say ???