Thread: Spar timber

It's available in Oz. It's called Oregon here, or Oregon Pine. It's a moderate weight, slightly flexible softwood which should have closely spaced vertical grains (about 10-20 rings per inch for a spar).

If you can't find it, you can use Hoop Pine for the same purpose, otherwise known as Araucaria. It's a plantation-grown timber in Aus, so it's going to be a fair bit cheaper (and a little ligher) than Oregon (DF), but you sometimes need to shop around to find either.

You can also use Sitka Spruce, but this is $$$$$$$$$. Spruce is a very light (good for spars) softwood with close, straight grain.

If you're getting Oregon, look for closely spaced, vertical, straight grain. There's plantation grown stuff which is a mixed bag - some really tight grain (good) and some really loose and crap grain that has been pressure grown quickly (bad). Oregon is a bit on the heavy side for most spars for small boats, but perfectly acceptable, even desirable, for it is very strong.

On hoop pine, it's all quickly grown, but plenty strong enough for a 15' boat's spar. Just make sure you get a piece without knots, with nice straight grain with minimal runout. It's slightly lighter (therefore weaker), but shouldn't give you issues with that size boat.

Spruce is unlikely, but it's great as it has a very high strength-to-weight ratio which means you can have a substantially lighter mast for the same dimensions as Oregon with similar strength. It's just expensive...

Overkill?

Or have a look at pauwlonia.

LINDSAY MEYERS Clontarf , just north of brisbane , they have a selection of HOOP PINE for boat builders, at reasonable prices .

I and several boat builders up here have delt with them and I have only heard good reports and the timber I have brought has been of excellent quality.

Jeff

I'd recommend hoop pine over Douglas fir. It's lighter, has better compressive strength for it's weight and is more readily available for you. The last thing you want in a small boat is a spar that's heavier then it needs to be. I wish I could get my hands on hoop pine up here, like you all have access to down there.