Re: Mast Materials
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "Matthew Lawson" <mlawson@t...> wrote:
Quebec it is great stuff in the raw or worked.Used that on a number
of spares for a 20 foot yawl once and was delighted with
it,especially after seeing the annual rigs no more then 1/8"
apart.......almost looked like Stika Spruce! What knots were present
were all dime sized and tight as hell.Those spars are now 19 years
old and still going strong!
Good luck with your mast!
Peter Lenihan
> The pics of Bruce's Teal show a sapling for a mast. What did youAny suggestions on materials here? Anyone driving from the Rockies to
> the East who can collect some mast poles?If you can ever get your hands on some Northern Black Spruce from
>
> --Matt Lawson
> Ewing, NJ
Quebec it is great stuff in the raw or worked.Used that on a number
of spares for a 20 foot yawl once and was delighted with
it,especially after seeing the annual rigs no more then 1/8"
apart.......almost looked like Stika Spruce! What knots were present
were all dime sized and tight as hell.Those spars are now 19 years
old and still going strong!
Good luck with your mast!
Peter Lenihan
You're right about screws. When it comes to things like driving a
multitude of screws into a quality wood, where accurate screwing
might put them all within the same grain line, SS is fabulous. I
don't think the spruce that finds it's way into 2X is any worse, it
is just not as remarkable in it's case, because it isn't as "hard" a
wood to start with, so to some extent it moves out of the way, but it
is still good, as rows upon row of nails will demonstrate. Now and
again a piece comes under the hammer that shatters, but it usualy
gives some warning, and might not be picked for this kind of job in
the first place.
Having spent the last 5 weeks in NB a stones throw from the woods, I
like the idea of a stick for a mast, We make our laders out of them
also. But I'm back in the big smoke (more accurately the big
nucleus) so I have to get my mind around the idea of Home Depot again.
multitude of screws into a quality wood, where accurate screwing
might put them all within the same grain line, SS is fabulous. I
don't think the spruce that finds it's way into 2X is any worse, it
is just not as remarkable in it's case, because it isn't as "hard" a
wood to start with, so to some extent it moves out of the way, but it
is still good, as rows upon row of nails will demonstrate. Now and
again a piece comes under the hammer that shatters, but it usualy
gives some warning, and might not be picked for this kind of job in
the first place.
Having spent the last 5 weeks in NB a stones throw from the woods, I
like the idea of a stick for a mast, We make our laders out of them
also. But I'm back in the big smoke (more accurately the big
nucleus) so I have to get my mind around the idea of Home Depot again.
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "pvanderwaart" <pvanderw@o...> wrote:
> It is my understanding that the characteristic that made the
> reputation of Sitka spruce over other spurces and firs was the
> ability to hold fastenings. This was very important in the era
where
> stays were attached to tangs screwed to the mast, LFH-style.
Needless
> to say, this is not that important in most PCB boats, and the
species
> that have the weight/strengh and weight/stiffness required are
> numerous. I think PCB usually specifies fir, without stating that
any
> particular sort of fir is best or worst.
>
> Peter
What are the symtoms?
Bob Chamberland
Bob Chamberland
>
> Now, Does anyone have a cure for boatpox?
>
> David Jost
--- "dnjost" <djost@m...> wrote:
my Micro Navigator, made from
Home Depot 2x4's glued up.
The plans call for aluminum tube
which I priced and found to be
$400. The wood cost $14, PCB
wrote that wood was OK with him.
The teal mast is such a 'needle'
tapering to less than an inch
at the top, that using a small
tree seemed soooo much easier.
> I made both the Mizzen and MainI just put a coat of varnish on
> masts for my former Micro from ripped
> 2X6 and 2X4 pieces.
my Micro Navigator, made from
Home Depot 2x4's glued up.
The plans call for aluminum tube
which I priced and found to be
$400. The wood cost $14, PCB
wrote that wood was OK with him.
The teal mast is such a 'needle'
tapering to less than an inch
at the top, that using a small
tree seemed soooo much easier.
It is my understanding that the characteristic that made the
reputation of Sitka spruce over other spurces and firs was the
ability to hold fastenings. This was very important in the era where
stays were attached to tangs screwed to the mast, LFH-style. Needless
to say, this is not that important in most PCB boats, and the species
that have the weight/strengh and weight/stiffness required are
numerous. I think PCB usually specifies fir, without stating that any
particular sort of fir is best or worst.
Peter
reputation of Sitka spruce over other spurces and firs was the
ability to hold fastenings. This was very important in the era where
stays were attached to tangs screwed to the mast, LFH-style. Needless
to say, this is not that important in most PCB boats, and the species
that have the weight/strengh and weight/stiffness required are
numerous. I think PCB usually specifies fir, without stating that any
particular sort of fir is best or worst.
Peter
I made both the Mizzen and Main masts for my former Micro from ripped
2X6 and 2X4 pieces. Stagger the scarfs throughout the length and use
about a 10:1 ratio on the scarfs and they will be plenty strong (and
straight).
Now, Does anyone have a cure for boatpox?
David Jost
2X6 and 2X4 pieces. Stagger the scarfs throughout the length and use
about a 10:1 ratio on the scarfs and they will be plenty strong (and
straight).
Now, Does anyone have a cure for boatpox?
David Jost
--- Inbolger@yahoogroups.com, "Matthew Lawson" <mlawson@t...> wrote:
and just rip out the edge wood, usualy there is a pith up the middle,
but the edge can be very good quality. Spruce 2x is given by
Guzzwell as being equal Sitka Spruce, though the grade is nothing
comparable. In this kind of case it can often be good enough.
> The pics of Bruce's Teal show a sapling for a mast. What did youuse
> Bruce?If you just can't solve the sapling problem, get some 2x6 or such,
and just rip out the edge wood, usualy there is a pith up the middle,
but the edge can be very good quality. Spruce 2x is given by
Guzzwell as being equal Sitka Spruce, though the grade is nothing
comparable. In this kind of case it can often be good enough.
--- Matthew Lawson <mlawson@...> wrote:
I got the idea, from PCB
who used saplings for
masts in his folding schooner.
With a homemade polytarp
sail, the crookedness of
the sapling was no problem
because I just traced the
curve of the mast on the
'sail cloth' to determine
the shape of the luff edge.
> The pics of Bruce's TealIt was free and quick.
> show a sapling for a mast.
> What did you use
> Bruce?
I got the idea, from PCB
who used saplings for
masts in his folding schooner.
With a homemade polytarp
sail, the crookedness of
the sapling was no problem
because I just traced the
curve of the mast on the
'sail cloth' to determine
the shape of the luff edge.
The pics of Bruce's Teal show a sapling for a mast. What did you use
Bruce?
For the mast of a Windsprint I'll begin this winter I've been scouting
local woodlots for ash poles, but they're too crooked when young. I
found some 3" dia bamboo, which I am curing, but I fear it will be too
weak at leverage points. Most recently I coveted lodgepole pines in the
Rockies--small diameter, dead straight, gently tapered, 30' lengths--but
the airline wouldn't accept a 20' stick as checked baggage.
Any suggestions on materials here? Anyone driving from the Rockies to
the East who can collect some mast poles?
--Matt Lawson
Ewing, NJ
Bruce?
For the mast of a Windsprint I'll begin this winter I've been scouting
local woodlots for ash poles, but they're too crooked when young. I
found some 3" dia bamboo, which I am curing, but I fear it will be too
weak at leverage points. Most recently I coveted lodgepole pines in the
Rockies--small diameter, dead straight, gently tapered, 30' lengths--but
the airline wouldn't accept a 20' stick as checked baggage.
Any suggestions on materials here? Anyone driving from the Rockies to
the East who can collect some mast poles?
--Matt Lawson
Ewing, NJ