Carbon round - 14 mm Ø

High modulus carbon fibre round tube, 14 mm outside Ø, 12 mm ID, 1 mm wall thickness, 64 grams/metre.

Made of high modulus UD carbon fibres to provide a tube with very high stiffness for its weight and diameter. Use for the lower section of a mast for a Marblehead or Ten Rater or similar size boat with 12 and 10 mm diameters higher up. Use for the middle section of a mast for an A Class or similar size boat with 16.5 mm lower down and 12 mm diameter higher up.

Graphs of 'Stiffness of mast spar material against diameter' and 'Stiffness of mast spar material against weight/metre' are shown in the thumbnail sketches. The suitability of any SAILSetc mast spar material for its intended application can be checked using the graphs shown in the FAQs section - link.

Doubtful about the benefit of SAILSetc carbon tubes compared with others?
The spreadsheet here allows you to calculate the deflection at the centre of a span of SAILSetc high modulus carbon tube when it is loaded with a concentrated weight at the centre. Enter the span (kgs), the weight and the external and internal dimensions of the tube (all in millimetres) into the coloured cells. Make the same bending test with tubes from other sources to see how they compare.

Guidance on pens suitable for marking difficult surfaces - here.

• Cutting carbon
• Always wear a mask when cutting and abrading carbon fibres.
• Clear up the work area carefully afterwards.
• Use a wet rag to mop up carbon dust rather than a vacuum cleaner or brush.
• Before bonding
• Check each piece of mast tube for bend.
• Arrange to use them so that the bend in the mast will be forwards going upwards.
• Abrade all surfaces to be bonded with abrasive paper
• Use Acetone, alcohol or methylated spirit to clean all surfaces to be bonded.
• Bonding
• Use liquid epoxy to wet all surfaces to be bonded
• Then add thickened epoxy to the surfaces that will be bonded
• Avoid applying local pressure that may distort the parts during bonding
• Avoid raising the temperature of the work piece until the epoxy is cured
• Allow the work piece to cool gradually after post curing.

Each batch of tube is carefully checked for stiffness, weight and diameter. Tubes that do not fall within our acceptable tolerances are not sold at full price. Often we have a small collection of lightweight tubes that have a lower than normal outside diameter and weight. These may be around 10% lighter, and have stiffness 10% less, than our normal tubes and are more prone to damage. But they may be ideal for creating a specially lighter rig for use in light winds or where shrouds will be used. We offer these tubes at a price in proportion to their weight - please ask if you are interested.