Anybody have any idea why I can't find aluminum tubing to replace my TheMightyHobie18 tiller crossbar? I'm not the best mathematician, so I've got some weird measurements off the conversions from mm to inches (my micrometer is Russian), but even then I can't find tubing/pipe that is remotely near the measurements in OD, ID and wall thicknesses ... anybody have any suggestions/ideas? I tried one on-line place someone of the F18 forum gave me and that didn't work ...

thanks

gary

www.mcmaster.com has just about anything you need.

I like http://www.onlinemetals.com/. Be sure to look at the round tubing and pipe catagories.

I don't remember anything of the TheMightyHobie18 that has to match the OD of the tube. If this is true just match the ID and get close to the OD. (Don't make the OD too big or it will look funny)

Respect tolerances. You are not buying precesion marine extrusions. This is bulk stuff probably made in many places. It may not even be 100% round. No matter who you buy from, call or email and tell them you have a X" thing and ask them what size you should buy.

For example if you have a 7/8" thing that must fit in a tube and the ad says the is ID 7/8" which actually means 7/8" +/- 1/x" and the tubing you get is (7/8-1/x)" ID, you are going to have to hone the inside of that tube. I have had one of those sitting in my shop for 2 years. It's better to be a liitle big than a liitle small