What wood is best for masts?
Sitka Spruce (Silver, Tideland or Menzies Spruce) has long been the top choice for mast builders. However many other spars have been built using whatever light, straight-grained wood was available, such as those shown below.
What wood is used for boat masts?
There are really only two species of timber that are used in yacht masts; Sitka Spruce and Douglas Fir.
How is a wooden mast made?
The basic idea is to glue a narrow strip of wood along the edge of a wider strip to produce an “L” shaped section. Then a small triangular strip is glued into the corner of the “L”. This basic section is used for each mast half. Two of these sections are glued side by side, with a groove to hold an aluminum luff tube.
How heavy is a wooden mast?
(Roughly 6.03 to roughly 7.6 lbs per foot comparing a Kenyon 6092 cruising mast section to a Douglas fir spar with equal sectional properties adjusted for modulus of elasticity) The weight for wood is a little too high for Sitka Spruce.
How is a mast made?
MASTS are made of long fir-trees cylindrically rounded: their sides, curving lengthways, form an arch of an ellipsis, resembling the shaft of a column, elevated perpendicularly upon the keelson, to which are attached the yards, sails, and rigging.
What tree was useful for making masts for sailing ships?
Pinus strobus was the answer and became known as the “mast pine.” The Eastern White Pine is known as one of the tallest trees in the Eastern part of the United States. It is easy to work and lighter than other woods.
How long does it take to build a mast?
around 12-18 months
How long does it take to build a mast? It usually takes around 12-18 months, from our engineers first identifying a potential site to the erected mast going live after extensive testing.
What are sailboat masts made of?
aluminum
Sailboat masts are the most distinct feature of sailing vessels, and they hold the sails in place. Masts are often taller than the length of the boat. Most modern sailboat masts are made of aluminum, though traditional boats use wood.
What is a spar on a sailboat?
A spar is a pole of wood, metal or lightweight materials such as carbon fibre used in the rigging of a sailing vessel to carry or support its sail.
What is the difference between a mast and a spar?
The mast of a sailing vessel is a tall spar, or arrangement of spars, erected more or less vertically on the centre-line of a ship or boat.
How far apart should mast steps be?
Recommended spacing is a step every 14 3/4″ on alternating sides of the mast. Two steps installed 47 1/4″ from the masthead provides stability (when used in conjunction with a bosun’s chair or harness) for sheave, instrument and other masthead repairs.
What is a tabernacle mast?
A metal or wooden structure, in the shape of an open box, which locates and supports a deck-stepped mast. A bolt passing through tabernacle and mast can provide a pivot point for lowering the stick.
How much does a mast weigh?
The current mast on the market weighs between 50–60 lbs. While this is not extremely heavy, the center of gravity is approximately 13.5 feet from the end of the mast. This high center of gravity makes it tough to raise and lower the mast when launching the boat.
How heavy is an aluminum mast?
The aluminium mast rig weights are 150-180 kg and carbon 92-180 kg. Most carbon rigs are 120-160 kg with a very few under 120 kg and some over 160 kg.
How is a mast attached to a sailboat?
Backstay – Line or cable that supports the mast and is attached to the stern of the boat. This is often a steel cable. Sidestay or Shroud – Line or cable that supports the mast from the sides of the boat. Most sailboats use at least two sidestays (one on each side).
How were mast attached to a sailboat?
The mast step kept the base of the mast secured to the keel. The decks had holes cut in them for the mast and these were heavily re-enforced and the mast wedged tightly in place to minimize movement. Above deck, standing rigging held the mast firmly in place.
What holds the mast?
Masts are held up with a system of wire or rod called Standing Rigging. Masts must withstand many forces, but the system of standing rigging is primarily concerned about forces from the side, since the wind will always be hitting the sails on one side, one side will be loaded and the other will not.
What wood is used for ships?
It’s essential that timber used for marine construction is hardy and durable. It cannot be too soft, nor too brittle, and of course it must stand against decay over time. There are plenty of options out there, and some of the most common wood types used for boats include cedar, ash, mahogany, oak, and pine.
How many trees does it take to make a ship?
A large warship would have required about 2,000 oak trees for its construction. The Royal George, a 100-gun ship, launched in 1756, used 2,309 loads (a load being 50 cubic feet) of straight oak and 2,306 loads of compass oak (curved grain).
Why are larch trees commonly used as the masts of boats?
It is a tough and durable wood, yet flexible in thin strips, properties that make it a particularly favored wood. Larch is highly valued in yacht building, which requires wood that is free of knots and can only be obtained from old trees that lost their side branches when they were much younger.
Contents