Good day all. I am new here so please excuse any mistakes / screw ups I may make. I am trying to find a yard that can work on, or has a sub-contractor that can work on, wood box constructed masts in the West Coast or Panhandle of Florida. The mast in question is about 50 feet long by about 5.5 inches X 7.5 inches. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Wood mast Repair
- Thread starter towline
- Start date
Hello towline & welcome to the SBO site.
If I were looking for a wooden mast repair I would first look for a woodworker who could look at it because a boatyard might have less experience with that sort of material than you would have expected to find "back in the day" (50 to 100 years ago). After all, wood is wood no matter how it is being used. Also, for the DIY person within some of us the construction is probably a glue-up of several pieces of shaped wood where the choice of wood to use and the angles to be cut on the glue surfaces are the critical considerations.
RE: this site...... In my opinion most (if not all) posters are very willing to help or offer opinions. Pictures to illustrate your question or project are greatly appreciated and help to avoid responses that miss your initial question. Welcome!
If I were looking for a wooden mast repair I would first look for a woodworker who could look at it because a boatyard might have less experience with that sort of material than you would have expected to find "back in the day" (50 to 100 years ago). After all, wood is wood no matter how it is being used. Also, for the DIY person within some of us the construction is probably a glue-up of several pieces of shaped wood where the choice of wood to use and the angles to be cut on the glue surfaces are the critical considerations.
RE: this site...... In my opinion most (if not all) posters are very willing to help or offer opinions. Pictures to illustrate your question or project are greatly appreciated and help to avoid responses that miss your initial question. Welcome!
Towline,
My old Lightning originally had a wooden mast and in the end I made the decision to upgrade to aluminum, however when I was doing my research into replacing it I found the three manufacturers below that were of great assistance. None of them are Florida based however they may be able to offer some guidance as to a yard that has the experience required to properly repair your mast. I wish you the best of luck in finding someone to help you with this.
Tony
http://www.thesparshop.org
http://www.shawandtenney.com/productdisplay/wooden-masts-and-spars
http://www.pleasantbayboatandspar.com/wooden-spars.php
My old Lightning originally had a wooden mast and in the end I made the decision to upgrade to aluminum, however when I was doing my research into replacing it I found the three manufacturers below that were of great assistance. None of them are Florida based however they may be able to offer some guidance as to a yard that has the experience required to properly repair your mast. I wish you the best of luck in finding someone to help you with this.
Tony
http://www.thesparshop.org
http://www.shawandtenney.com/productdisplay/wooden-masts-and-spars
http://www.pleasantbayboatandspar.com/wooden-spars.php
Towline,
I suggest you take a look at Wooden Boat Magazine forums. You may get good advice there.
I was at St Michaels Maritime Museum in Maryland a month ago and there was a fellow there repairing the broken wooden boom of the ~100 ft schooner, Lady Maryland. So you may also get good advice from local traditional boat clubs/museums.
Paul
I suggest you take a look at Wooden Boat Magazine forums. You may get good advice there.
I was at St Michaels Maritime Museum in Maryland a month ago and there was a fellow there repairing the broken wooden boom of the ~100 ft schooner, Lady Maryland. So you may also get good advice from local traditional boat clubs/museums.
Paul
Contact Dennis Mayhew of Mayhew Marine Services. Located at Bluewater Bay Marina in Niceville, FL. 850-865-5631
His personal boat has wooden spars and I know he has rebuilt several masts.
His personal boat has wooden spars and I know he has rebuilt several masts.
ouch. That's gonna be a tough repair. The mast head broke off on mine, and I rebuilt it myself. Yours is going to be tougher
Attachments
Thanks, but-- I have done furniture repair and refinish since 1985, then built and repair boats for 10 years. Retired now, closed shop- only do my own work, and stuff that really interests me
I have done two like yours. There are couple of ways to make this repair and none are difficult. For a very good explanation of how to do this work obtain How To Build a Wooden Boat by Bud MacIntosh. Sam Mannings drawings are very good Consult the chapter entitled Spars. The point is just about any competent carpenter could make the repair - but beware there will be other sections in that spar that will need to be fixed too.
Pricewise (which in your case is mostly an matter of the time) you might compare with an aluminum replacement. Aluminum is pretty much for ever whereas you will always need to engage in regular maintenance if you stick with wood.
Charles
Pricewise (which in your case is mostly an matter of the time) you might compare with an aluminum replacement. Aluminum is pretty much for ever whereas you will always need to engage in regular maintenance if you stick with wood.
Charles