On 23 Mar 2007 09:59:16 -0700, "Bill"
wrote:

Bill was wondering if you could use 2 masts off of old windsurfers
use a small alloy tube as a joiner in the middle, the one's i have at
home are nice and springy like bamboo. Was thinking of the spun
fiberglass type not the alloy type.
hope its a thought
Shaun

Yeah I could do that but It would really not look good. Considering
the boat is all wood strip composite I wanted to go more natural
materials. If I can't get bamboo then I am probably going to make it
out of a wood beam.

There are two other ways.
One is to wrap wetted out glass cloth tape spirally round a waxed
plastic pipe and pull the pipe out after (use hot airgun to melt wax).

As you want natural and can't get the correct sized bamboo, why not
make a composite bamboo mast which will be much stronger than one
single piece as well as being lighter. Japanese Kendo practice swords
are made in this way. Bamboo of the desired length is split into
staves. The edges are shaped like barrel staves on an angle so that
when they all fit together they press against each other and transfer
shock loads. The assembled sword is not glued but keld together by
leather thongs at intervals and a long thong stretched to caps at both
ends. - They are very strong and can break broom handles as well as
bones. A single stem of bamboo whould either shatter or split.

Masts for small Indonesian fishing boats throughout the islands are
often made of a few small diameter bamboo stems lashed together at
intervals. They are light and can be raised when the wind comes up.

- Just a thought.

regards
Peter