Poles.....stainless or aluminum?

MKP

2010-09-09 20:49:00

Guys,

getting ready to build a set of poles. I planned on going aluminum but talked to a fab guy that has been doing them in stainless. what do you all think?? is there a downside to SS? I have a good source for SS and am setup to weld it. not setup for aluminum.

thanks in advance,

mike

Jon

2010-09-09 21:17:27

I think I would prefer my pole to break, not my boat... Perhaps stainless is too strong?

And perhaps too heavy. I know raising a 40 foot aluminum pole is hard... If it was three times heavier? Plus all the extra weight up high on your boat. I guess it depends on how big your poles are.

Other than that, I think it's just a question of cost.

MKP

2010-09-09 23:20:10

Thanks for the reply Jon,

I was thinking the basically same thing.

Of the same size SS is 37% heavier than aluminum. SS is stronger than aluminum though so I could go with a smaller pipe and be closer to the same weight???

My plan is to go:

20' of 2" SS sch 40 and 10' of 1.5" SS sch 40 for a total weight of 54.36 lbs

or

10' of 3" Al sch 40 and 10' of 2.5" Al sch 40 and 10' of 2" Al sch 40 for a total weight of 58.761lbs

think im on the right track here?

Jon

2010-09-09 23:24:48

I checked two online calculators for the weight of stainless (316) vs aluminum (6061) and they both showed stainless was 3x heavier. I don't have any to weigh, but from experience I think that seems about right.

Try this:

http://www.onlinemetals.com/calculator.cfm

Jon

2010-09-09 23:28:38

2" SCH 40 SS pipe:

2.067" outer diameter

0.154" wall thickness

20 feet long

Weight: 63.6 lbs

Same stats for aluminum came out at 22lbs?

MKP

2010-09-10 04:04:59

interesting

here is what i was using:

2" SS304 sch 40 is 1.848lb/ft o 36.96lbs / 20' and these dimensions: 2.375" Outer diameter 0.154" wall 20'

when I use the calculator you posted i get 74lbs

weird! cause when i pickup a 20' piece it doesn't feel like 74lbs or even 63.

What size are your poles? how long? are they really difficult to raise? what kind of purchase do you have?

SS is cheaper for me because i can weld it myself and dont have to hire a welder. I'd like to make this work. maybe i should downsize to 1.5" and 1.25" pipe???

Salty

2010-09-13 03:13:16

Another issue here is flexibility. You want some bend in the poles, like a fishing rod. I suspect stainless is stiffer than aluminum. I believe wood poles are even more flexible and entertaining. I am thinking a carbon composite, light, flexible, and strong would be the best if affordable.