Alternative material for rod rigging

[Coopjammin]

Hi Brian,
Firstly many thanks for producing the rigging handbook I never leave home without it and it's saved my bacon a fews times!

Following on from the thread, I specifically am looking to replace the rod on my 1997 Reichel Pugh 1D48 having done 3 transatlantic crossing in her I am now getting her ready for coding and ultimately day chartering. As such I will need a mast out rig survey and will need some form of work or replacement - under the coding regs this will need carrying out every 5 yrs. as I am on an Atlantic Island will limited rod facilities I am interested in learning more about other options such as dyneema - which presumably could be made up and shipped to me for fitting. What are your thoughts?

Regards

Ian

[Stumble]

I couldn't really see titanium working very well for standing rigging. Well it would work find, but it would be incredibly expensive.

Titanium for all its advantages really hates being cold formed. And requires post forming heat treatment to prevent cracking. But since it will catch fire long before it gets to optimal heat treatment tempratures it has to be heat treated in a noble gass environment. So imagine cold forming the heads then having to bake the entire rod to 1800c in an oven filled with argon.

It could certainlybe done, but carbon fiber would be cheaper, and lighter, and available off the shelf.

The cost of the metal rod that you start with would be pretty cheap by comparison. Probably not much more than normal rod rigging rod.