Mixing Up Awning Poles And Ear Plugs

I think I've got this the right way round I mixed up awning poles with ear plugs not the other way round. If I'd have done that it would have meant at best intense pain and at worst a head kebab.
I put my awning up this weekend and for some reason the PVC looked a little skewed. Anyway I was told by Helen that I had my awning gable end poles the wrong way round. Very defensively I stated no. "It says in the instructions that the short pole is on the left. No said Helen the shorter pole corresponds to the narrower bed.
The exact opposite of a "Light Bulb Moment" then occurred a very pronounced "D'------oh. I then apologised to Terry who I swore was wrong on this point and I now apologise to others who I have missdirected. What occurs on 6s or Destinys where the awning doesn't extend to the end of the bed???
I was still quite insistent in my own mind that I had read instructions for the awning to have the shorter pole on the left. Read the instructions and no it was quite plain  the longer side goes to the left.
At that point I realised I had transposed L for Longer in my head for the Left for "Bit LEFT out" that I had used for years on earplugs. I always bit a piece from one of a new set of earplugs to make sure that I didn't swap ears with the plugs.

Now who was it that helped you put the awning up and got it wrong? That's the thing I love about sailing, I can always blame the crew.

I think the six & destiny poles are both the same length. I expect you'd still get 'em round the wrong way though...

I was only obeying orders

I'm saying nothing ...

... because a picture can say all that is necessary  

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peridot wrote:
I'm saying nothing ...

... because a picture can say all that is necessary    

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quite right i'm colour coded also in the dandy as the left and right roof poles are different on mine anyway

Caz1960 wrote:

peridot wrote:
I'm saying nothing ...

... because a picture can say all that is necessary    

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quite right i'm colour coded also in the dandy as the left and right roof poles are different on mine anyway

Caz

The poles in the Dandy are different as well as the ones in the awning?  Which ones tell us more?


peridot

No, quite a fervent no. Tape ads nothing to the process. Baring the two capped poles for the under bed windbreaks there are only two odd frame poles. All the other poles are self evident in their location. The mistake I made was one of mixing up the rule that I had applied from the instructions I had read. The simple idea of saying that the shorter pole goes with the shorter bed is enough to explain. If someone has a set of awning poles where the springs have gone, so there are countless poles of similar length. Then I'd appeal to them to buy new tethering springs. The use of tape makes nothing clearer. The original instructions just emphasise the difference of the 2 gable end posts.
Of course if anyone really doesn't see how the poles relate and they need to apply tape. Then whatever works for you. I started this thread more as an apology for my misplaced confidence in how awnings should be erected and now I'm showing confidence in my corrected understanding.

Perhaps best to ignore me then.

Tow Itch wrote:

Perhaps best to ignore me then.

I would never do that ... I have too much still to learn  

I recalled you views on colour coding awning poles and allowed myself a gentle poke.

Personally, I think that colour coding can be a useful aid where necessary, although I have seen folk colour coding spring-coupled pairs  

Anyway I'm planning on taking the plunge tomorrow and having a go at the big awning on the Destiny. The forecast for the Green Man festival looks fairly grim and we've been warned not to get the 'new' camper messy. (Mrs Peridot doesn't do music festivals, so it's just me and dear daughter). The awning will be a good dumping ground for all our muddy stuff and messy living arrangements for the four days.

I'll report back after the event although it may be a while as we've a family holiday planned immediately after the festival.

Dangerous. Festival with no time to clean up afterwards. Hope you get the awning sorted it may be your bedroom on the holiday.

The Newport gardening [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] wasn't you sorting out festival supplies was it?

[quote="Tow Itch"]

Caz1960 wrote:

peridot wrote:
I'm saying nothing ...

... because a picture can say all that is necessary    

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

quite right i'm colour coded also in the dandy as the left and right roof poles are different on mine anyway

Caz

The poles in the Dandy are different as well as the ones in the awning?  Which ones tell us more?


sorry I worded that wrong I have put colour tape on the inside of the Dandy that marries up with the awning poles

We just have some red tape on the longer of the two front poles and on the centre middle corner thingy ........ the rest make no difference where they go

Our awning poles had all been colour coded by a previous owner and we find it really useful.

Tow Itch wrote:Dangerous. Festival with no time to clean up afterwards. Hope you get the awning sorted it may be your bedroom on the holiday.

The Newport gardening [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] wasn't you sorting out festival supplies was it?

Love it Not me, I wouldn't know what to do with it ... honest guv

We managed the awning okay. There's a couple of bits that don't seem quite right - I'll take pics and ask some questions when I'm back. The family holiday is not in the Dandy unfortunately