After trying Harbor Frieght (where we bought the hoist) we resorted to the phone book in search of something strong enough to span 90 inches and hold 300 lbs securely as it rises and falls 30 feet. A tall order as it turns out. We found G & H Welding and Ironworks and Gordon answered the phone. He listened for a few minutes to our situation, asked "who are you?" but then told us he probably had something we could use. What we didn't realize initially was that he meant we could use, as in, "borrow", for free! How cool is that? He walked us through his workshop until he found something he thought would be strong enough for us, and still light enough for us to handle, a long aluminum pole...