Recently acquired a Merlin with twin poles designed for the older rule with a smaller spinnaker and poles... I have got a new spinnaker but now need longer poles to suit.  Any poles out there or advice where to get some from.

Guy

Tony Blackmore is making an alloy pair for me, because I couldn't face the cost of carbon and he was cheaper than any other source for new poles that I could find.  Details are:
Sailsport Ltd
Tel/Fax 01392 420043
Mobby 07977 512673
e-mail [email protected]
web www.sail-sport.com

I just got quoted an obscene amount for carbon too! Thanks Bill; I will give him a call.  The other option I am considering is getting hold of some carbon and doing them myself (I have a source!)... Does anyone one know of the common layup, to dave me having to do some calcs?

You can buy circa 30mm carbon tube from Superspars for £41.40 plus vat for a 2.5m length. End fittings are about £20 for both poles - so £120 all in!

Is that so much more than the alloy ones?

I won't tell you what I was quoted but it certainly wasn't that!! Sounds like a call into Superspars....

Does this mean you are disposing of the old poles - I'd like twin poles on our old Merlin.
If so what length are they?

Does this mean you are disposing of the old poles - I'd like twin poles on our old Merlin.
If so what length are they?

mg3508.  
A straight comparison suggests a saving of about £45.  However, that ignores the transport costs - Tony does it as near free as possible, whereas the carbon poles from a different supplier were going to set me back at least £70 to get them to Inverness.  So about £80 versus £200+ and I have no experience of working with carbon.  I paid £650 for the boat.  I rest my case.

Is a resting case yet another example of the Merlin's development class status!!!!???

Thank you folks;  I am gladdened at the interest (new to Merlins and my first posting!).
PJ - I must admit that I don't know how long they are, but I will measure them for you; I also have the kite that they were designed for.
After more research the best offer I can find is Approx. £80  +VAT per pole 39mm OD (from my local source) whilst Superspars came in at (38mm diameter including ends and lift eye) £114.66 plus VAT and delivery (per pole!).  MMmmmm.

PS. Where can you get the resting cases from - sounds useful.

No Bill, postage to Inverness is not something I took into account! I shall rest both my cases - securely fastened against the forthcoming weather!

Guy, isn't 38mm a bit 'structural' for a carbon twin pole system?

You might be right but apparently that's what they supplied in the past; do you think that 30mm might be more in tune?

hey I'm far from an expert - but the Chipstow twin pole system is 32mm tapered to 25mm at the ends and my single pole system is about 40mm tapered to 32mm at the ends.

The end fittings are made to fit 25 or 32mm poles.

32mm is the usual for Merlin poles tin or carbon. Might need something a bit beefier if it's a centre hung pole but with a twin pole system a lot of the forces are in compression along the length of the pole.