Making a solid boat mast

Y

yachtbot

New User
Brian
Hi Folks, I hope this is a fair place to post this...

I've got to replace my wood mast here in Morehead City, we have sourced a solid 8 inch square timber 34 ft long.

Would anyone here have an idea of who could help me get it down to 6.25 in square or better still 8 sided?

Otherwise I guess I have to buy the tools so I can do it myself, and I'd kind of rather pay someone that already bought them... thus participating in commercialism and consumer culture less.. and maybe spending a less too?

Brian
 
Mike Davis

Mike Davis

Mike
Corporate Member
Scott Smith has the tools and skills to do that. Don't know if he is tied up with other work or too far away for you.

Whispering Pines Farm / Quartersawnoak.com
Scott Smith (919) 291-0095
New Hill, NC (about half-way in-between Apex and Sanford)
Specilizing in milling and kiln drying oak, and custom milling of extremely long or large logs (up to 60" diameter, 58' long)
Kiln dried oak and eastern red cedar always in stock.
 
Y

yachtbot

New User
Brian
Mike Davis said:
Scott Smith has the tools and skills to do that. Don't know if he is tied up with other work or too far away for you.

Whispering Pines Farm / Quartersawnoak.com
Scott Smith (919) 291-0095
New Hill, NC (about half-way in-between Apex and Sanford)
Specilizing in milling and kiln drying oak, and custom milling of extremely long or large logs (up to 60" diameter, 58' long)
Kiln dried oak and eastern red cedar always in stock.
Click to expand...
Hi Mike, thanks I will give him a call. That us 3 hours from where the boatyard is, so might be logistically difficult but I much appreciate the lead !
 
Gotcha6

Gotcha6

Dennis
Staff member
Corporate Member
yachtbot said:
Hi Folks, I hope this is a fair place to post this...

I've got to replace my wood mast here in Morehead City, we have sourced a solid 8 inch square timber 34 ft long.

Would anyone here have an idea of who could help me get it down to 6.25 in square or better still 8 sided?

Otherwise I guess I have to buy the tools so I can do it myself, and I'd kind of rather pay someone that already bought them... thus participating in commercialism and consumer culture less.. and maybe spending a less too?

Brian
Click to expand...
If you can find somebody with one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Makita-5402NA-16-5-16-Inch-Circular/dp/B0000614UR
We have one but it was only used 9 years ago to rebuild a bridge deck. Looks like a beast but it cuts pretty good.
 
Skymaster

Skymaster

New User
Jack
Good question, I think most are tapered.
sounds like it needs to be a factory that does this or someone has to make it at the boat yard
 
O

Oka

Casey
Corporate Member
Most masts are tapered that are wooden to some degree.

FYI, 34 ft length would not require any special road permit to transport overland. Trucking might cost though
 
smallboat

smallboat

smallboat
Corporate Member
The OP isn’t saying, but it’s possible this is just the mast and there is a lighter gaff or lug that extends further up.
I would still expect the mast to taper some. Weight aloft is generally something you want to reduce wherever possible. Conversely, if there’s a reason for it to be that stout 34’ up, then I would expect it to be more massive at the base.

Lots of variables and I’m sure there’s a reason for what he is setting out to do.

Speaking of options- a hand held power plane can do a pretty quick job on something like this, including 8-siding it.
 
J

junquecol

Bruce
Senior User
50+ years ago, worked for Koppers one summer making laminated arches and beams. They use a band saw (18") mounted on wheels to make such cuts. Mounting a bandsaw on a dolly isn't the biggest problem, but having a smooth concrete floor to work off of is the bigger. Work would have to be supported at BS table height. If someone has a 36" Tannawiz, work could be supported by rollers and fed thru it.
 
Gotcha6

Gotcha6

Dennis
Staff member
Corporate Member
Another option is someone with a stationary or portable sawmill with a looooooong carriage.
 
Y

yachtbot

New User
Brian
As sourcing a solid timber was not possible locally, ans shipping quotes ranged from $2000 to $4000 we are most likely laminating. The reason for Solid is rhe boats very high Ballast ratio and keeping good movement onboard. Yes it's a gaff rig boat. Yes it tapers in the top 5 ft and has other shape too. So now, I need to make about 40 clamps ... unless someone wants to loan or rent some out ... fun soon ahead, ordered the lumber from Atlantic Veneer today
 
smallboat

smallboat

smallboat
Corporate Member
White oak would be rot resistant but very heavy. wood spars are more typically spruce, fir or pine.
 
Y

yachtbot

New User
Brian
I find it so crazy that even with all the huge amount of lumber we see , trees and so on, moving around North Carolina, I'm finding it impossible to source a timber large enough ? Who cuts all those trees down ?
 
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