wood for mast - eastern Canada
 

Hi group,

I'm wondering what wood to use for an unstayed mast (junk rig). I have
the book Practical Junk Rig here. The authors (British) recommend
Scots Pine as the best, but a Canadian government publication tells me
that Canadian Scots Pine is a much lower-quality wood than that grown
in Europe, on account of inferior seeds having been used to introduce
them here. They also recommend larch, of which we have plenty.

I have access to several woodlots with appropriately-sized trees, so
I'd appreciate a recommendation on what wood to use. I'd like to get
it cut before the sap starts to flow back into the trees this spring.

Alternatively, I know of a telephone pole factory that could sell me
my sticks, but I'm not sure how well I could control what species I'd
get in that case.

Regards,
-Maxime

wood for mast - eastern Canada
 

On Feb 26, 2:53 pm, max camirand wrote:
Hi group,

I'm wondering what wood to use for an unstayed mast (junk rig). I have
the book Practical Junk Rig here. The authors (British) recommend
Scots Pine as the best, but a Canadian government publication tells me
that Canadian Scots Pine is a much lower-quality wood than that grown
in Europe, on account of inferior seeds having been used to introduce
them here. They also recommend larch, of which we have plenty.

I have access to several woodlots with appropriately-sized trees, so
I'd appreciate a recommendation on what wood to use. I'd like to get
it cut before the sap starts to flow back into the trees this spring.

Alternatively, I know of a telephone pole factory that could sell me
my sticks, but I'm not sure how well I could control what species I'd
get in that case.

Regards,
-Maxime

first: are they to be hollow or solid?

second: how big a boat are you putting them on?

third: how tall are the planned masts?

wood for mast - eastern Canada
 

On Feb 26, 6:48*pm, Two meter troll wrote:
On Feb 26, 2:53 pm, max camirand wrote:



Hi group,

I'm wondering what wood to use for an unstayed mast (junk rig). I have
the book Practical Junk Rig here. The authors (British) recommend
Scots Pine as the best, but a Canadian government publication tells me
that Canadian Scots Pine is a much lower-quality wood than that grown
in Europe, on account of inferior seeds having been used to introduce
them here. They also recommend larch, of which we have plenty.

I have access to several woodlots with appropriately-sized trees, so
I'd appreciate a recommendation on what wood to use. I'd like to get
it cut before the sap starts to flow back into the trees this spring.

Alternatively, I know of a telephone pole factory that could sell me
my sticks, but I'm not sure how well I could control what species I'd
get in that case.

Regards,
-Maxime

first: are they to be hollow or solid?

second: how big a boat are you putting them on?

third: how tall are the planned masts?

+++++

Hollow or solid? Solid. I will shape the poles I cut.

What size boat? 37 ft.

How tall? Two masts, both keel-stepped (obviously). One around 35ft
long, one around 30ft, maybe a little less. I haven't decided on the
exact dimensions yet. Since it's not the designed rig for the boat, I
have to draw it myself. I'm going on rough dimensions now. I figure
it's best to cut the masts and start seasoning them now, since it
takes a heck of a long time.

Regards,
-Maxime

wood for mast - eastern Canada
 

On Feb 26, 4:00 pm, mcamirand wrote:
On Feb 26, 6:48 pm, Two meter troll wrote:



On Feb 26, 2:53 pm, max camirand wrote:

Hi group,

I'm wondering what wood to use for an unstayed mast (junk rig). I have
the book Practical Junk Rig here. The authors (British) recommend
Scots Pine as the best, but a Canadian government publication tells me
that Canadian Scots Pine is a much lower-quality wood than that grown
in Europe, on account of inferior seeds having been used to introduce
them here. They also recommend larch, of which we have plenty.

I have access to several woodlots with appropriately-sized trees, so
I'd appreciate a recommendation on what wood to use. I'd like to get
it cut before the sap starts to flow back into the trees this spring.

Alternatively, I know of a telephone pole factory that could sell me
my sticks, but I'm not sure how well I could control what species I'd
get in that case.

Regards,
-Maxime

first: are they to be hollow or solid?

second: how big a boat are you putting them on?

third: how tall are the planned masts?

+++++

Hollow or solid? Solid. I will shape the poles I cut.

What size boat? 37 ft.

How tall? Two masts, both keel-stepped (obviously). One around 35ft
long, one around 30ft, maybe a little less. I haven't decided on the
exact dimensions yet. Since it's not the designed rig for the boat, I
have to draw it myself. I'm going on rough dimensions now. I figure
it's best to cut the masts and start seasoning them now, since it
takes a heck of a long time.

Regards,
-Maxime

then you are going to want to go with stiff lite and strong. so given
your normal forest mix in the east that would be white or yellow cedar
(depending on how high you are north). red is to flexible and larch is
bloody heavy. would go with larch if i was building a hollow mast
cause i think a bit of extra weight is not bad. of course you can
adjust it when you shape so larch might be fine. IMO in any of these
the important bit is going to be getting as old a tree as you can get.
anyhow thats my thoughts on it. I am sure other folks will be along
shortly.

wood for mast - eastern Canada
 

Two meter troll wrote:

On Feb 26, 2:53 pm, max camirand wrote:
Hi group,
I'm wondering what wood to use for an unstayed mast (junk rig).
then you are going to want to go with stiff lite and strong. so given
your normal forest mix in the east that would be white or yellow cedar..
*
Cedar is considered durable, but spruce has the best strength for its
weight: less durable, and hard to find in straight grain but coveted by
light plane builders (for instance) for main spars.

Brian W

wood for mast - eastern Canada
 

Hi Maxime,

I used a telephone pole for the mast on my Mignonne.
It just so happens that it was available for free and as I’m a bit of
a cheapskate I had to go for it.
But it has been up there for a few years now with no problems at all.
I figure that the phone companies would be unlikely to use anything
sub-standard. And the poles have to withstand quite a lot of strain.
If you can get one cheap enough I’d go for it.
Otherwise how about sitka spruce, there’s plenty of that in Canada..

Mike

Timmynocky

http://www.diy-wood-boat.com

Feb 26, 5:53*pm, max camirand wrote:
Hi group,

I'm wondering what wood to use for an unstayed mast (junk rig). I have
the book Practical Junk Rig here. The authors (British) recommend
Scots Pine as the best, but a Canadian government publication tells me
that Canadian Scots Pine is a much lower-quality wood than that grown
in Europe, on account of inferior seeds having been used to introduce
them here. They also recommend larch, of which we have plenty.

I have access to several woodlots with appropriately-sized trees, so
I'd appreciate a recommendation on what wood to use. I'd like to get
it cut before the sap starts to flow back into the trees this spring.

Alternatively, I know of a telephone pole factory that could sell me
my sticks, but I'm not sure how well I could control what species I'd
get in that case.

Regards,
-Maxime

wood for mast - eastern Canada
 

Western larch (Larix occidentalis) would be an excellent choice for a mast.
They grow tall, straight, have clear wood, tight grained and extremely
resilient to bending pressure.
I am not familiar with Eastern larch (Larix laricina). On the West Coast,
Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is often used as Sitka spruce (Picea
sitchensis)
of mast quality is becoming harder to obtain.

regards...Ken

"max camirand" wrote in message
...
Hi group,

I'm wondering what wood to use for an unstayed mast (junk rig). I have
the book Practical Junk Rig here. The authors (British) recommend
Scots Pine as the best, but a Canadian government publication tells me
that Canadian Scots Pine is a much lower-quality wood than that grown
in Europe, on account of inferior seeds having been used to introduce
them here. They also recommend larch, of which we have plenty.

I have access to several woodlots with appropriately-sized trees, so
I'd appreciate a recommendation on what wood to use. I'd like to get
it cut before the sap starts to flow back into the trees this spring.

Alternatively, I know of a telephone pole factory that could sell me
my sticks, but I'm not sure how well I could control what species I'd
get in that case.

Regards,
-Maxime

wood for mast - eastern Canada
 

On Feb 27, 11:40*am, "Island Teak" wrote:
Western larch (Larix occidentalis) would be an excellent choice for a mast.

wood for mast - eastern Canada
 

Not the least bit foolish Maxime, at least I don’t think so.

My pole was soaked in Tung Oil before she saw stepped and since then I
occasionally give her a quick coat just to spruce (pun partially
intended) her up.
I discounted using varnish for the reasons you mention but mainly
‘cause varnich is pain in the ass to get right and keep looking smart
whereas slapping on some wood oil is easy.
As for the chaff I’m afraid the parrels will eventually do that
whatever your mast is made of. There is plenty of good advice on chaff
prevention in PJR.
I have heard of junk riggers sheathing their masts with fibreglass and
epoxy to prevent chaff but me thinks that will cause more harm than
the varnish.
For my parrels I've used the slippest but softest rope I could find,
not that nylon stuff it too hard and will soon cut into the mast. So
far I haven’t had too much trouble with it cutting in. But I am
considering slipping some polythene tubing over some of the parrels.
By the way there is an excellent yahoo group for junkriggers. It
really is the best place for Junk Rig advice.

Mike.

http://timmynocky.terapad.com

I can't help but think that the pole would be more prone to rot if it
were varnished. Certainly it'll develop checks, so the rainwater would
get into it and get trapped under the varnish. I'd rather leave it
unfinished so that it can breathe. At most, if I see that the lines
are starting to chafe grooves into the mast, I'd give it a coat of oil-
based paint so that I could see the chafe spots and touch them up as
needed. I will abundantly tar the ends and use a masthead fitting to
cap the top.

Does this plan strike anyone as foolish?

Regards,
-Maxime