Here's an old note by Gene Smith from the
Baidarka mail list, with a recipe for
pine tar slush:

From: Gene Smith
Subject: baidarka Pine Tar
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1998

A typical "downeast" deck finish formula from Maine:
1 quart Turpentine
1 quart Boiled Linseed Oil
1/2 pint Japan Drier
1/2 pint Pine Tar


I suspect that "mast slush" and other slush formulas had a bit more
pine tar in them. I just made up a half-gallon of this formula to
paint on my cart used as a prop at Texas Renaissance Festival, which
is, of course, built like a little boat on a big wheel. Think I'll put
it on my homemade wood and leather clogs as well. Pine tar is one of
those smells you either hate or love. Sailors used to paint it on hand
sewn canvas clothes for a water proofing of sorts - hence the
reference to them as "tars". Capt. Pete Culler in various places in
his books makes a very good case for using something like this rather
than paint on the inside of working skiffs.
While it probably wouldn't "waterproof" canvas covering as well as
more modern paints, there is at least one instance I know of where
pine pitch was used to seal up a catamaran that successfully went
transatlantic.


Gene Smith


On Fri, 18 Jul 2003 16:45:02 -0700, Dave Fleming wrote:

Anybody know how to make tar for use in tarring rigging (hemp and marline)?

Don't make it buy it. It is Pine Tar. Can be obtained from farm supply
outfits at a much cheaper price than at boatie shops...if they have
it. Or search the web for a mail order place.
You are after a mixture called 'slush'. Search under that too.
Or post an e-mail to one of the Maritime Museums and see if their
rigging shops will provide you with a recipe.


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Tales of a Boat Builder Apprentice