Thread: Questions on building a mast

I built a 7ft 6inch Nutshell dinghy which was designed by Joel White and had a 9 foot mast with a sprit on it. I used Oregon pine, or Douglas Fir, as it is also known. It was an unsupported mast .. no stays.. and it was 21/2 inch at its thickest through the thwart support down to 11/2 inch at the top. Not sure if this is of help in your situation.

Rhys .

Thanks Rhys, yes that half the problem, what size it should be.
Still wondering if Tas Oak is OK to use, or if I am going to have to go further afield to find some one with a better range of timber?

Simon

G'day Psi Phi'
I went down the home built mast track when my daughters were into sailing years ago.

Everybody was using oregan pine at the time but about all you could get was stuff with the 'bones' about 6mm apart.

A builder mate introduced me to 'silver quandong' which I believe is the same as 'blue quandong' and is a beautiful timber to work and made great lightweight masts.

It worked well enough for one daughter to win two heats of a national Sabot championship using a quandong mast.

I learned some tricks and short-cuts from a few older hands so feel free to PM me if your plans aren't being helpful.

Barry Hicks

Thanks Barry, the problems is not so much which wood should I use, but, is the wood I can get easily suitable for the job?

The pine in Bunnings/Home looks pretty soft (not that I know much about wood), but the Tasmainian OK [which apparently is a Eucalypt not an Oak] seems to have a good straight grain, clear of knots etc., - at least if you spend enough time forraging for the best bits, it does.

Hi Psi Phi
Not sure Tassie Oak would be so great as an unstayed mast
Firstly it is hardwood and generalising it is heavy and has limited flex
Better choices are certain softwoods. The "best" mast timber is sitka but most forest (northern hemisphere only) have been long cut down last century. Oregon or western red cedar (especially if laminated hollow core)would be a better choice
Regards

Peter

Hoop pine is readily available in long clear lengths & perfectly adequate for a mast on this size boat. I have built mast & spars for 14ft gaff-rigged dinghies from Hoop pine with no problems - masts were laminated from three full-length boards.