Wondering what everybodys thoughts were on wooden masts, and how do they compare to Aluminum? thanks!
Wooden VS. Aluminum mast
- Thread starter jeepmark
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Probably the only advantage to
wooden mast is that you can go into the wood and chop down a tree and make one. If you leave a wooden mast on the ground you may need a new one but if you leave an aluminum mast on the ground for a year it will take a lot of cleaning to make it look good.
wooden mast is that you can go into the wood and chop down a tree and make one. If you leave a wooden mast on the ground you may need a new one but if you leave an aluminum mast on the ground for a year it will take a lot of cleaning to make it look good.
Everyone is right
In addition to what Jay said...Aluminum is stronger,lighter and far less maintenance..there is also less weight aloft. ROSS said.."If you leave a wooden mast on the ground you may need a new one" and he is 100% correct. Rot on wood is not always obvious, especially if it starts on the inside which is potentially a very dangerous situation. 50 years ago i would have probably thought....'we been using wood for thousands of years so whats wrong with now?' However, technology moves on, and I for one would not feel confident and trust a wooden mast. If its in very good condition, im sure it would be just fine. But if you ever get caught in a bad blow, even if short lived, when the boat is bouncing around, you may want to rethink it. Keep in mind that if the old ways were better, we would still be doing it that way.
In addition to what Jay said...Aluminum is stronger,lighter and far less maintenance..there is also less weight aloft. ROSS said.."If you leave a wooden mast on the ground you may need a new one" and he is 100% correct. Rot on wood is not always obvious, especially if it starts on the inside which is potentially a very dangerous situation. 50 years ago i would have probably thought....'we been using wood for thousands of years so whats wrong with now?' However, technology moves on, and I for one would not feel confident and trust a wooden mast. If its in very good condition, im sure it would be just fine. But if you ever get caught in a bad blow, even if short lived, when the boat is bouncing around, you may want to rethink it. Keep in mind that if the old ways were better, we would still be doing it that way.
Wood is great!
On classic wooden boats. Anything else--forget about it! I spend enough time doing fiberglass maintenance, why would I want more headaches. Far as I'm concerned, the aluminum mast ranks up there with the great inventions of the 20th century: the pull-tab and the Fender Stratocaster.
On classic wooden boats. Anything else--forget about it! I spend enough time doing fiberglass maintenance, why would I want more headaches. Far as I'm concerned, the aluminum mast ranks up there with the great inventions of the 20th century: the pull-tab and the Fender Stratocaster.
"If the old ways were
better we would still be doing them." Not if those folks in marketing have anything to say about it. There have been many changes that were made for the sake of change. One time I had a salesman call selling Aluminum siding. When I told him that I lived in an all brick house, he said that wasn't a problem they could cover that.
better we would still be doing them." Not if those folks in marketing have anything to say about it. There have been many changes that were made for the sake of change. One time I had a salesman call selling Aluminum siding. When I told him that I lived in an all brick house, he said that wasn't a problem they could cover that.
If the old ways were better....
Ross, this is a friendly disagreement. My statement ..." if the old ways were better, we would still be doing it that way" is still a true statement. Just because a salesman trying to make a commission, irresponsibly so, tried to mislead you, lets not call him an expert. I dont think that you will find many people to dispute the fact that a brick house is far superior to a wooden house with aluminum siding. Brick homes are still the favorite and BEST choice all around for a home. Most high dollar homes are brick, why , because the old way is still the better way. Until they come along with a new better way, brick will still be the preferred. The only reason brick is not more common is because of cost. Soooooooooo, my statement...if the old ways were better, we would still do it that way... is still true. We still make brick homes. Tony B
Ross, this is a friendly disagreement. My statement ..." if the old ways were better, we would still be doing it that way" is still a true statement. Just because a salesman trying to make a commission, irresponsibly so, tried to mislead you, lets not call him an expert. I dont think that you will find many people to dispute the fact that a brick house is far superior to a wooden house with aluminum siding. Brick homes are still the favorite and BEST choice all around for a home. Most high dollar homes are brick, why , because the old way is still the better way. Until they come along with a new better way, brick will still be the preferred. The only reason brick is not more common is because of cost. Soooooooooo, my statement...if the old ways were better, we would still do it that way... is still true. We still make brick homes. Tony B
I know that it is
not to be taken seriously. It is very hard to take most salesmen seriously. some of them are very much needed but a lot of them are like lawyers. A solution looking for a problem. Among the pluses and minuses for wood vs aluminum masts , halyards slapping wood aren't as annoying as halyards slapping hollow aluminum. I haven't had to go up my aluminum mast to varnish EVER! someone else can take it from there......
not to be taken seriously. It is very hard to take most salesmen seriously. some of them are very much needed but a lot of them are like lawyers. A solution looking for a problem. Among the pluses and minuses for wood vs aluminum masts , halyards slapping wood aren't as annoying as halyards slapping hollow aluminum. I haven't had to go up my aluminum mast to varnish EVER! someone else can take it from there......
Wood
For some applications wood is a good choice. Dinghy masts under about 20 feet or so. It is cost effective to tune the mast and sail combination for bend with wood. Above that size wood is heavy, expensive, and high maintenance compared to alloy.
For some applications wood is a good choice. Dinghy masts under about 20 feet or so. It is cost effective to tune the mast and sail combination for bend with wood. Above that size wood is heavy, expensive, and high maintenance compared to alloy.
Compared to the labor needed
to make an aluminum anything wood is ideal, Ist. it grows on trees. 2nd. what you don't use for making your mast you can use to cook your food. 3rd. when you ship wreak on a remote shore you can chop it up to make a fire to warm you until someone with an Aluminum boat comes by to rescue you.
to make an aluminum anything wood is ideal, Ist. it grows on trees. 2nd. what you don't use for making your mast you can use to cook your food. 3rd. when you ship wreak on a remote shore you can chop it up to make a fire to warm you until someone with an Aluminum boat comes by to rescue you.
Don't toss the cookies
If you cut down the hollow trees, the Keebler elves won't make any more cookies. Go for aluminum and leave the cookies for us!
If you cut down the hollow trees, the Keebler elves won't make any more cookies. Go for aluminum and leave the cookies for us!
Ahhhh Wooden Boats
Back in the 70's when I had more time than money and was gifted with boundless energy... I owned a Mason 30 that was built in '57 by Vaughn in San Pedro. She was very stout. Made of African Mahogany planks on oak frames and fastened with silicone bronze. A heavy little full-keel (with cut-away forefoot) fractional rigged cutter. She had a tapered spruce mast of hollow "box" construction. That boat was absolutely drop dead gorgous, sailed like a dream, and was warm cozy and dry. Sailing her was like driving a Lincoln Continental. Of course I worked on her about 6 1/2 days a week but I was in love and didn't mind at all. The mast was the least of my worries. After the first season I rough sanded the varnished mast and painted it with white monopoxy. I owned that boat another six years and never touched the mast again. Would I own another wooden boat? If I were 25 years old again, probably yes.
Back in the 70's when I had more time than money and was gifted with boundless energy... I owned a Mason 30 that was built in '57 by Vaughn in San Pedro. She was very stout. Made of African Mahogany planks on oak frames and fastened with silicone bronze. A heavy little full-keel (with cut-away forefoot) fractional rigged cutter. She had a tapered spruce mast of hollow "box" construction. That boat was absolutely drop dead gorgous, sailed like a dream, and was warm cozy and dry. Sailing her was like driving a Lincoln Continental. Of course I worked on her about 6 1/2 days a week but I was in love and didn't mind at all. The mast was the least of my worries. After the first season I rough sanded the varnished mast and painted it with white monopoxy. I owned that boat another six years and never touched the mast again. Would I own another wooden boat? If I were 25 years old again, probably yes.
boat
Well the reason for mentioning the wooden mast was I was interested in Mariner ketchs'. They are a fiberglass hull with a wooden main mast and mizzen. I don't mind the maintanence I just wanted a mast that wont fail me in a storm. thanks for everybodys input!
Well the reason for mentioning the wooden mast was I was interested in Mariner ketchs'. They are a fiberglass hull with a wooden main mast and mizzen. I don't mind the maintanence I just wanted a mast that wont fail me in a storm. thanks for everybodys input!
I lived with two for 25 years
I lived with two wooden mast on a Cheoy Lee Clipper for 25 years. The pro is the things let me sleep soundly with almost no noise at night. I miss that part. The maintenance was not as bad as one would think. The spruce holds up very well on the vertical. The only problem I had with rot was spreaders. They where immediately replaced with teak spreaders. I found a special coating that lasted 12 years. So in 25 years the mast where only redone twice. I think the beauty of them over the 25 years was worth the price of the maintenance. First redo in 1980 cost me 2000 dollars. Second redo in 1992 cost me 4500 dollars. The quietness was just an extra bonus.
I lived with two wooden mast on a Cheoy Lee Clipper for 25 years. The pro is the things let me sleep soundly with almost no noise at night. I miss that part. The maintenance was not as bad as one would think. The spruce holds up very well on the vertical. The only problem I had with rot was spreaders. They where immediately replaced with teak spreaders. I found a special coating that lasted 12 years. So in 25 years the mast where only redone twice. I think the beauty of them over the 25 years was worth the price of the maintenance. First redo in 1980 cost me 2000 dollars. Second redo in 1992 cost me 4500 dollars. The quietness was just an extra bonus.
It Probably Wont, but...
It probably wont fail or should i say, it shouldnt fail if its in good condition. But you will be on edge as long as the wind and seas are up. If its a Mariner you are after, the mast should be the least of your problems. They are notorious for wet decks which usually have to be opened , re-cored and replaced. If you are not experienced in this, it will take a lot more knowledge and skill than you might expect. Do yourself a big favor, get some books from the library on surveying, pre-survey the boat yourself. You may decide that you dont want the boat BEFORE you spend big bucks on a surveyor and haulout. If it looks OK to you, then go ahead and get a good surveyor to go over every inch. There is a good reason that Mariners and Island Traders are much less expensive than other ketch rigs that size. You may be lucky and get one that was well maintained by a knowledgeable sailor. Good luck.
It probably wont fail or should i say, it shouldnt fail if its in good condition. But you will be on edge as long as the wind and seas are up. If its a Mariner you are after, the mast should be the least of your problems. They are notorious for wet decks which usually have to be opened , re-cored and replaced. If you are not experienced in this, it will take a lot more knowledge and skill than you might expect. Do yourself a big favor, get some books from the library on surveying, pre-survey the boat yourself. You may decide that you dont want the boat BEFORE you spend big bucks on a surveyor and haulout. If it looks OK to you, then go ahead and get a good surveyor to go over every inch. There is a good reason that Mariners and Island Traders are much less expensive than other ketch rigs that size. You may be lucky and get one that was well maintained by a knowledgeable sailor. Good luck.
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