: Has anyone every tried or considered using solid fiberglass rods as
: stringers for a SOF build? Certainly not light, but they seem
: practical for larger pulling or sailing boats where extra weight
: could be neutral or even a benefit. 3/8in x 8ft fiberglass tree
: stakes can be mail delivered for under $2.50 each, with 2 joined
: by 6-12in brass ferlues (sp?) for a 16ft stringer for under $6
: and less than 2.5lbs. I'm currently in build on a slightly
: modified 15ft SOF Rangeley with a flat timber bottom (16in

Can you give the source for your fiberglass tree stakes?

: midship) with probably 6 fiberglass stringers per side. With a
: stout ballistic nylon cover and white pigmented Zar poly coating
: I am expecting a classic planked profile.

Depending on how widely spaced your frames are, you might get away with 3, 4, or 5 stringers to each side--and each one you do not use reduces the cost and weight.

I'm not sure you need to go with the cost of brass for your ferrules. 1/2" OD Aluminum tube should do fine. With a wall thickness of just under 1/16", the inside diameter of the tube should be just right to slide over the 3/8" fiberglass. Secure it to the end of one pole by gluing it on with epoxy. If the other part is too loose, give it a coat of epoxy(and let that harden) to build it up a little thicker.

I wouldn't worry about flat spots from the joints. In fact, consider making 2 joints on each stringer. Use a full 8' piece for the center, and put approximately 4" ends on it. Curvature is not that much 4' from the ends. Since you probably won't be using stringers which are exactly 16 feet long, you can trim the ends to fit.

Check out Texas Towers for the aluminum tubing. http://www.texastowers.com/aluminum_.htm Their 1/2" OD 6063 tubing has an ID of .384, which is .009" bigger than the 3/8" (.375") fiberglass poles. That 9 thousandths should be about right. You can pinch the tubing with a vise grips, or tap it with a hammer to get a tighter fit, too. They want $1.10 a foot. If your ferrules are 8" long you'll get 3 ferrules from every 2 feet of tubing. A 6 foot length of tubing would yield 9 ferrules. You might find that 6" ferrules work for you. In that case you would get 12 from a 6" length of tubing.

Hope this helps

PGJ