About

Founded from a love for sailing

…and the products that make sailing more enjoyable.

Forte Carbon was established in 2011 to fill a niche building high performance, engineered composite tubes and spars for the marine industry – sailboat masts, spinnaker poles, battens, etc. Over the course of nearly 20 years we have grown and expanded on our basic mission: manufacturing carbon fiber tubing with the capability to build large diameter and extremely long lengths.

Tireless Advancements in Engineering

Our focus on building advanced composite tubing has paid off and we now serve customers in industries from Aerospace to Performing Arts and everything in between.

We have 3 manufacturing lines dedicated to our braiding process with capabilities from .375” to 12” diameter and lengths beyond 60’. We have a roll wrapping machine for smaller diameter and shorter lengths of tubing made with pre-preg and we have a large 40’ wrapping / winding machine for large diameters over 12”.

Customer Driven Solutions

Our methodology from sales to manufacturing is customer solution driven and what that means is we don’t build a bunch of tubes then sell them to whomever comes along. We don’t build “stock” tubes and we generally don’t have inventory on the shelves.

We discuss each application with the customer and guide them to the most appropriate manufacturing technique (even if it’s not within our capability), tailor a laminate design and build that tube for that specific application. This process isn’t complicated or tedious. We ask a few questions about what the tube needs to do, fit and finish requirements, any other specialty requirements, and we build the right carbon fiber tube
for the job the first time.

  • Strong & Reliable

    The goal at Forte is to engineer and manufacture superior quality products that have a lasting value.

  • Advanced Technology

    Forte utilizes the best in current technology, application and process to optimize performance for any carbon fiber tubing.

  • Best Possible Results

    With advanced engineering and experience with many industries, your job will get the right product the first time.

  • Varied Applications

    From simple poles to more advanced free standing structures, we can manufacture for many different industries and uses.

Our Focus

Building high performance, engineered composite tubes
with superior quality and dedication.

What they’re saying

The carbon fiber tubing we use in the Mosquito Air Helicopter has proven to be very reliable and strong. Forte offers a good product at a very reasonable price.

John Uptigrove - Innovator Technologies

Before and during the 2002/2003 Around Alone race, we broke every type and every brand of sail batten you can imagine. This is one thing about Ocean Planet’s unstayed (freestanding) mast, that it is very tough on battens. However, for the end of the Around Alone and for the Vendee, we are using custom braided S-glass/carbon fiber battens by Forte… Forte battens are incredible, and it is so nice not to have to worry about battens anymore.

Bruce Schwab - Skipper Ocean Planet

Thanks for the awesome new mast for Strummer. It’s made a huge difference; she’s a much better boat, definitely stiffer and faster. We took 2nd (Class IV) in this year’s (2007) Bermuda 1-2. Lots of days in the 25-30 knot range. No problems with the rig at all.

Louis Meyer Strummer — Hinkley Pilot

My Forte mast is fantastic. It is light and extremely strong… two gales in the Bay of Biscay and three flying gybes (thanks to autopilot malfunctions) with the spinnaker up, and each time it came through unscathed. ACADIA Once I gybed in 30 knots of wind 2 miles from the finish with a full main and broke one of the running backstays, so no backstays on downwind… no problems.

Clay Burkhalter - Team Acadia

Strong, light and fairly priced ~ a good value! That’s what our clients tell us about their Forte poles. And we appreciate having a reliable source of spinnaker poles to meet our clients’ expectations.

Lisa Vizzini - Port Townsend Rigging

I would like to thank you, Tony and all the crew at Forte for the great service and excellent product. As you know, we were without a supplier for a mast, spirit and spinnaker pole for the new Rocket, and your company was the only one with a “can do!!”attitude. Right from helping us to pick the correct mandrel, creating the laminate schedule, to helping us construct the first mast, you went beyond the call of duty. We were nervous that the mast would be too stiff, and had lots of “nay sayers”, but when we set the rig up and went for our first sail, it was just what we were looking for!! Keep up the great work!!

Alan Barnes - Rocket Boats