Splintering lazy jack poles

[bkufluk]

My lazy jacks have 2 poles to hold up the sides, but the poles have become worn and will give you nasty fiberglass splinters if you dare to approach them which then stay in your hands for days.
What's the best solution - a fiberglass resin coat, epoxy, or am I best just buying new ones?
Thanks

 

[Cspirit]

Same problem. Just wear gloves when you handle them. Twice each year only?

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Most lazyjack systems don't have any poles, so many of us might have trouble visualizing what you mean. Perhaps a photo?

If they're just fiberglass poles, then I'd suggest that replacing them should be cheap and easy. See, for example, 1m GRP Tubes For Sale | UK Made | Carbon Fibre Profiles

 

[Boathook]

My stackpack has battens in pockets to hold the edges straight. If your poles are in pockets I would just use gloves but if external I would replace.
As per @AntarcticPilot a picture is wonderful.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

If it is the similar to mine, it’s the horizontal poles in the stack pack.

 

[Daydream believer]

What's the best solution - a fiberglass resin coat, epoxy, or am I best just buying new ones?
Thanks

an epoxy resin coat, However, new battens are relatively cheap. When you buy them give them a couple of coats of international 2 pack varnish

 

[AntarcticPilot]

an epoxy resin coat, However, new battens are relatively cheap. When you buy them give them a couple of coats of international 2 pack varnish

And by the time you've bought resin, it will add up to the cost of replacement poles. But a coat of UV resistant varnish would be a good idea.

 

[Baddox]

Could you fit a sleeve of electrical shrink-wrap over the poles?

 

[yoda]

My lazy jacks have 2 poles to hold up the sides, but the poles have become worn and will give you nasty fiberglass splinters if you dare to approach them which then stay in your hands for days.
What's the best solution - a fiberglass resin coat, epoxy, or am I best just buying new ones?
Thanks

Try MDPE pipe

 

[Laysula]

If they;re round, sleeve them with pneumatic pipe.

 

[Neeves]

If the poles, battens, are fibreglass and exposed then UV will have caused the resin (used to make the battens) to deteriorate and develop splinters on the surface. If this process has not gone too far - simply make some cloth sleeves for the batten. If the battens have a cloth cover the splinters will not be an issue (unless the battens are really falling apart). Covering with resin or varnish may not work - the UV will still be at play. I suspect you could also cover with sticky back (sail repair tape) but it will be a short term answer - but would be good, spiral wound round the batten, before you put the batten in a cloth sleeve (as the sticky back will contain the splinters)

Our pockets were integral with the boom cover. Holes were drilled through the pockets and the battens and small shackles inserted and the lazy jack cords were supported by passing through the shackles. The shackles used were tiny, may be a 10mm wide 'u' and made from 3mm stainless. I suspect the smallest shackle in a chandler.

Its a bit of a faff to take a boom cover off to sew the pockets to the boom cover and you will have to develop a way to connect battens (with covers) to the boom cover - some pictures of your existing arrangement would solicit ideas - no photos - less useful ideas - your choice . Ideally the pockets you make should be Sunbrella, or similar - something UV resistant but it is pricey.

I'd use the old battens if at all possible - battens are not cheap if there is life (with covers) in the old battens.

Jonathan

 

[Neeves]

My lazy jacks have 2 poles to hold up the sides, but the poles have become worn and will give you nasty fiberglass splinters if you dare to approach them which then stay in your hands for days.
What's the best solution - a fiberglass resin coat, epoxy, or am I best just buying new ones?
Thanks

We don't know but your poles could be hollow fibre glass tubes (which might then be described as 'poles') or flat bars of fibre glass.

Whichever, they both 'splinter', - you can still make sleeves, or use plastic electrical conduit or domestic water pipe as an outer cover, so you retain use of the strength of a fibreglass tube, but still sleeve and still drill for (slightly bigger) shackles (as you now need to size for the outer tube).

We had hollow tubes of fibre glass, also used as battens, for our HF aerial - its 25 years old now - it has not splintered but has gone wooly (different fibre glass for the reinforcing)

Or buy new - depends how much excess weight you have in your wallet.

Jonathan

 

[greeny]

I only have a small 6m boat now but I use 20mm (other sizes available) white pvc electrical conduit that has proved stiff enough to fulfill the requirement. It's in a pocket so is not exposed to UV and is cheap enough to replace regularly if required.

 

[fredrussell]

Could you fit a sleeve of electrical shrink-wrap over the poles?

This ^^^ Just did the same with my glass/carbon whisker pole which was giving me terrifying splinters. Get the adhesive shrink wrap.

 

[Neeves]

Is cable shrink cover, with or without glue, UV sensitive?

Jonathan

 

[fredrussell]

Is cable shrink cover, with or without glue, UV sensitive?

Jonathan

I wondered the same. The black stuff I put on my whisker pole hasn’t deteriorated after a year, but I accept that’s a short period. It’s cheap enough to replace if/when it does succumb.

 

[rogerthebodger]

I use PVC cable conduit 20mm od pipe with a 15 mm od aluminium pipe in side to give extra stiffness

Cheep as hips and easy to replace

 

[Laysula]

Slight thread drift, but my Dan Buoy is one of the types constructed from a fibreglass pole which also started to splinter due to UV. I sleeved that with yellow pneumatic pipe.

 

[rogerthebodger]

Slight thread drift, but my Dan Buoy is one of the types constructed from a fibreglass pole which also started to splinter due to UV. I sleeved that with yellow pneumatic pipe.

My Dan Buoy is also mad from 20mm dia PVC conduit with an aluminum tube inside for stiffness.

 

[bkufluk]

The poles run horizontally, with the ropes tied down onto it. They are mostly covered by the cover as they run through sleeves in it, but are exposed at the points where the ropes attach.

Thanks for all the feedback so far!