MERLIN ROCKET FORUM

Topic : Twin poles upgrade

Could anyone please point me in the correct direction to get my hands on a twin pole system. None of that Carbon stuff for me, the bugets a bit tight.
I need to find out what diameter is best and If anyone supplies alloy tubes ready to go - mast clip at one end and pre cut downhaul holes ect so that i can upgrade to twins now that my seconhand carbon single has been reclaimed by its owner.
thanks


Posted: 09/01/2006 22:33:37
By: hamish
Have you asked Alan F?  He may have some broken ones.


Posted: 09/01/2006 22:46:44
By: Cheeky
broken ones are no use - I want brand spankers so that I can blame my crew when it all goes Pete Tong !!


Posted: 09/01/2006 23:05:26
By: hamish
Any decent size chandler will be able to supply you with Alloy tube. A guy at our club got some from P&B and they fittd them out for him too.

I'd image any local place will do something similar, though Speeds P&B and Sailsport will have the class know how.


Posted: 10/01/2006 07:19:11
By: Chris
Hamish,

Chris is right. Give Tom Stewart a call at P&B 01604 592808, I am sure he will either let you know what is required or get someone at P&B to make you a set.


Posted: 10/01/2006 08:40:23
By: Richard Battey
I used Tony Blackmore at SailSport. He knows one end of a Merlin from another, and has FREE POSTAGE!

http://www.sail-sport.com/cgi-bin/ss.cgi?referrer=

Posted: 10/01/2006 09:10:22
By: Mags
If the budget is tight you can always go the DIY route as it's really easy.  Chandlers will have you believe you need anodised aluminium but the only advantage is that straight ally poles acquire a cosmetically not brilliant powdery coating of oxide.  If you get your pole from a metal merchants you will save loads of cash.  Fit a good quality hook on one end with a collar to trip the catch, on the outboard end you need an eye for the uphaul and a hole in the bottom of the pole for the downhaul.  You put a lined deck bush of the right size into the end of the pole and thread it through to a stainless steel ring.  Downhaul MUST be minimum stretch - multistrand Vectran is good but you don't want the covered one as the cover will fray.  Fit either a small block or another stainless steel ring on the top of the inboard end of the pole for the takeaway elastic & that's it.  Your uphaul attachment point needs to be as high as possible, under the jib box with a space to avoid drilling too many holes, or even attached with a deck loop on the lower screw of the jib box.


Posted: 10/01/2006 09:17:45
By: AndrewM
P.S. I had approx 1" diameter poles - they didn't break but they did bend alarmingly on occasions and if I were doing it again I would have gone for slightly thicker ones - 28?mm in new money 1 1/4 ins in old


Posted: 10/01/2006 09:20:39
By: AndrewM
P.S. I had approx 1" diameter poles - they didn't break but they did bend alarmingly on occasions and if I were doing it again I would have gone for slightly thicker ones - 28?mm in new money 1 1/4 ins in old


Posted: 10/01/2006 09:20:58
By: AndrewM
In November, Superspars quoted me £110 for two ally poles with fittings excluding carriage.


Posted: 10/01/2006 09:33:41
By: Bill
Blimey - P&B will do you two ready made-up carbon poles for about 200.

Just make sure they put decent triggers on them, they put crappy string and bobble triggers on mine which we'll need to swap for collared triggers.

In fact, the best triggers seem to be those used by Alsop/King, fashioned by Dan out of an old burgee but I'm not sure if I could be that skilfull. They basically means that when you grip the trigger, the gate opens.


Posted: 10/01/2006 09:59:37
By: Jon
Be really kind to your crew and get carbon poles - much easier to handle and also they do not do as much damage to the helm when the crew throws them back in a picque!


Posted: 10/01/2006 10:47:13
By: RichardT
Thanks to all who have given advice.
Thats the best thing about sailing Merlins, everyone will help everyone else with advice and tips.
Merlin Rocket, possibly the best class in the world
Bet the Danes wished they had thought of it first.
On the subject of Beer - I will hopefully see you in the Bar at Dalgety Bay over the Easter weekend so that I can buy you all a pint.

Now there is an incentive - A Scotsman willing to part with his money.....


Posted: 10/01/2006 22:50:03
By: hamish
Thanks for the plug Mags. Hope they're working OK...


Posted: 13/01/2006 14:13:57
By: Blackie
Cheers Hamish, Does that mean John and I can send you our beer list for lending you our carbon last season.


Posted: 13/01/2006 17:29:03
By: Calum
Does anyone know of a good cheap source of 25 / 28 mm diameter 2.3M lengths of carbon that can be DIY'ed?


Posted: 13/01/2006 18:07:12
By: Terry
Pinnel & Bax their catalogue arrived yesterday.


Posted: 14/01/2006 14:13:08
By: Ancient Geek
I have recieved my new Pin bax cat.  Nice new cover same old inside  !!!


Posted: 14/01/2006 18:23:28
By: Russhopkins3374
No it's not. The prices have gone up!


Posted: 14/01/2006 20:25:33
By: Richard Battey

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