So nothing on the diamond strut?   The trick I learnt on luminium is to "wet" sand the aluminium with epoxy resin, and there is good bond without the oxidizing. Would not be easier starting from scratch it is a really nice and light mast, will work good.   Just curious as to not heard of the diamond strut use. Never thought that stays would be really that bad either. The back winding of the easy boom and therefore hitting the stays wouldn't be much of a problem. I sailed with the hard top sunroof in the way of the beams full swinging room, and managed OK. I don't really see what  a metre of bend off at the top of the mast is going to be that much of a safety release valve unless you are heeling rigjht over.   Rob, other historians... where was the stays tried and then removed from then on?   Sure on a harriette it would get in the way, and just the added awkwardness of diamond struts make them not ideal.   Should get to try it out this next week or two. Good to have a small boat to launch quick and try stuff.   Doug --- On Tue, 23/6/09, Robert <cateran1949@yahoo.co.uk> wrote: From: Robert <cateran1949@yahoo.co.uk> Subject: [harryproa] Re: diamond struts To: harryproa@yahoogroups.com.au Date: Tuesday, 23 June, 2009, 1:37 PM - AN interesting site and had some good tricks for making shafts.-- In harryproa@yahoogrou ps.com.au, George Kuck <chesapeake410@ ...> wrote: > > Hello, > I recently made some net rails from PVC pipe with a carbon fiber sleeve put on with vinyl ester resin.  You could possibly use a similar process to make mast, booms or other parts for you boat. > > http://au.groups. yahoo.com/ group/harryproa/ photos/album/ 1241059291/ pic/1598755942/ view?picmode= &mode=tn& order=ordinal& start=21& count=20& dir=asc >   > To get fibers to run closer to length  use a larger sleeve, largest that will still fit pipe.  I expect there are a lot of parts that can be made this way. >   > I purchased the sleeve from ; > http://www.solarcom posites.com/ >   > The solarcomposites sight has a lot of interesting information and products that may be useful for boat work. >   > Happy sailing, > George Kuck > Chestertown, Md. > > --- On Mon, 6/22/09, Robert <cateran1949@ ...> wrote: > > > From: Robert <cateran1949@ ...> > Subject: [harryproa] Re: diamond struts > To: harryproa@yahoogrou ps.com.au > Date: Monday, June 22, 2009, 9:07 PM > > > > > > > > > Hi DOug, > Free standing masts are quite different from stayed and it is not easy reinforcing aluminium. They are also a fair bit heavier for the strength. > I suspect it would be easier to start from scratch. > nice job you are doing on the stretching. > > regards.--- In harryproa@yahoogrou ps.com.au, Doug Haines <doha720@ > wrote: > > > > Hi ya, > >   > > I think the mast I found at the yard could be suited to free standing. It had a diamond strut to keep the mast in column, without any spreaders. > > If you beef the mast up upto where the lower strut point then you have a very stiff mast. > > Sounds more economical than a stronger , thicker free stander as per usual. > >   > > Doug > > > > --- On Mon, 22/6/09, George Kuck <chesapeake410@ ...> wrote: > > > > > > From: George Kuck <chesapeake410@ ...> > > Subject: Re: [harryproa] Re: Aroha trans Tasman > > To: harryproa@yahoogrou ps.com.au > > Date: Monday, 22 June, 2009, 8:46 PM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hello Rob, > >   > > In discussions comparing trimaran, catamarans and proa ,I did ask Ian Farrier " Have you ever designed a proa ?" and his short response was " No and I would never do so." and in another post (I could not locate) he indicated that proa's did not live up to the claims (or something to that effect) and did not elaborate.  I think he just put all proa's in the same pot and would not consider any of them and he did not comment on the Harryproa. > >   > > Happy sailing, > > George Kuck > > Chestertown, Md. > >   > >     > > > > --- On Mon, 6/22/09, Rob Denney <harryproa@gmail. com> wrote: > > > > > > > > __ > > >