Get back to the supplier of the plans for his suggestions, he must have contacts .... If someone sells a product they need to offer support. (Aust Consumer Law)

The lack of suitable materials has limited the construction of Class5 yachts for some time in Australia and hence the reason most yachts constructed these days fit the 'International Mini 5.6 Class'.

Unfortunately in Australia the aluminium supplies are a long way from what they used to be, actually causing all sorts of problems for manufacturing in many areas.
AUS230 on the forum sails Class5 and the Club88 (class5) are still being built in WA.

aus230 said...
I think it has almost reached a point in aus to start using windsurfer masts at least for club events. The last place we managed to get mast aluminum was from Bob Keeley But I think Paul got the last of it.

Contact - Light Spars Of Australia
Bob Keeley (lovely old bloke in his 70s and still building masts)
6 Horscroft Pl Moorabbin VIC 3189
ph: (03) 9555 4622

sorry to tell you ,but all the nice ally in australia has been used up.the capral stuff that DR refers to is long gone, they simply dont make it anymore. what we didnt realize when we were buying and recommending the stuff as late as2007 was that the stocks were rapidly dwindling.
Bob Keeley did have limited supplies, but was missing 1 of the sections needed to make the mast. He might have some 2" sections left, but I bought almost all the stock he had in the smaller sections. that might sound a bit selfish, but it was all small offcuts and missmilled sections. with all that I bought you can only build 1.5 masts, so Im still on the scrounge. you may need to consider a hybrid mast ,say a 60%carbon windsurfer mast reinforced internally with another WS mast or some T5 ally .
I have 1 full piece of 40x1.6 T81 , so if you can find some 44 x1.6,40x1.6 and some 40x3 T6 then PM me
also consider something like a laser mast. smilar sections and tempers

Gizmo said...

aus230 said...
I think it has almost reached a point in aus to start using windsurfer masts at least for club events.

Perhaps it actually time for FISLY to re think the mast thing, If it is no longer viable to build 'class spec' yachts the class may struggle and eventually die.
While it might be 'nice' to fudge a similar yacht together for club events it's fragmenting the International Class ideal, and why should a person set up a yacht to top level knowing that they will NEVER compete at national or international level.

There would only need a few changes highlighted (or word removal) to allow masts / boom of of virtually any configuration whether being metal, composite fibre or other materials.

Just my personal suggestions....

If the sport had a strong National Association which it doesnt you might have a very slim chance,but the way it is there is no hope.

niaychi said...
If the sport had a strong National Association which it doesnt you might have a very slim chance,but the way it is there is no hope.

Even in the vibrant 'good old days' of the sport, Australia (I believe) only had an associate membership with FISLY which was a NON voting position.
ANY changes with the class rules will need to be instigated from the Northern Hemisphere and not from 'Down Under'. Even if the sport in Australia was ten times the size here it would still be small compared to European sailing.
Social media like forums and Face book seem to have a greater influence over the sport, take the Mini5.6 class for example has seemed to been booming with people on the Internet from all over the world.

aus230 said...
That is why I said at club level. I think people who want to sail in international events will soon find a mast to suit. In the mean time I think the only way to see class5 yachts being built in aus it to relax the mast rule unless some one can point us at a supplier for aluminum tube. Crazy Trav has used thin wall metal drill tube for a mast which was light and worked(for class5 that is fine but for promo it states aluminum tube)
I am not trying to change international rules, I would just like to see more class5 under sail.
Cheers
Vic
aus230

Why and not try and change the rules to benefit the sport world wide if there is a need?
Perhaps how about discussing the mast problems with your Northern Hemisphere contacts on face book and see what might get up and rolling.