I have a golden rule for all masts and many other bits for a boat . 

Does it look right  second does it look manly enough  look at the mast on Rogers Ming ming 2  some would say a bit big me I like the look of things that look like they can take on the world

pete

Graham Cox wrote:

It does seem your masts are a bit light.  Last night I was re-reading Kris Larsen's Monsoon Dervish (working, not loafing, doing research for a future HOF article!) and he mentioned that his mast, which is 12m overall, is 300mm at the partners, 125mm at the truck and 200mm at the step, a solid oregon tree he purchased from the Tasmanian Forestry Commission (anything like that in NZ?).  It is hard to find the sort of alloy, spun-tapered mast I have in this part of the world.  Mine came from France and I was lucky to get it, one of only 4 available in Australia.

No such luck, I'm afraid.  Invercargill used to have a managed plantation of Sitka Spruce, planted for the War Effort (by a complete pessimist, one has to assume.)  The masts on PassePatu came from there, but the council chopped them all down and turned them into wood chips (rumour has it) some years ago.  All our douglas fir/oregon is grown too fast, really.  (Or maybe they simply export the good stuff - you'd have thought that grown high up on S Island would be first class.)  Good spar timber is all imported, unless you can get hold of some second hand. 

Roger Fullerton wrote:

Hi Annie,

 The broken mast was 180mm at the deck with a 33,7m2 sail area and a height of 11.7m The main is 250mm at deck with 58,5m2 sail area and 15m mast. The masts do not have wedges, they make a lot of noise so I reckon they are a little loose, hence the theory they where rubbing and wearing out. Will know more when I remove the main mast and dissect it. I will drop by shortly to Nor sand’s if that’s ok Annie.

For an offshore boat, as stiff as a Le Forestiere junk, they sound a bit light on.  I think that might explain why they failed on you.  I don't know if you have a copy of Practical Junk Rig, but I have a copy that I can lend you.  You are very welcome to come by Norsand - ask in the office to find out where I am.  Best described as the big shed with the real windows.

I think timber masts are quieter, and nicer, though I have no serious complaints about my alloy mast.  However, my mast sets up an infernal squeaking at times when there is some movement of the yard and battens at sea, caused by the yard and throat parrels rubbing back and forth, but at least it doesn't make sawdust, as Mike Richey reported occasionally happened with his unsheathed timber mast on Jester.  So, maybe timber with a good epoxy and glass sheathing!  Steel and alloy masts of the right spec are probably stronger for a given weight, but it should be possible to build a laminated, epoxy and glass sheathed timber mast that is reliable. Properly wedged, with a good mast boot! 

Having said all that, I like my unpainted alloy mast because I never have to think about it, apart from checking under the boot occasionally to make sure it is not corroding.  I spray around the partners thoroughly with lanolin oil every time I check.  I have friends who stepped painted steel masts from China 10 years ago and have had excellent service.  It becomes a matter of preference.  They all flex a bit, and should, which is why they are tapered, though some masts seem to flex excessively and alarmingly to me.  My mast is 200mm dia. at the partners and 110 at the truck, 8.6m height above the partners (overall length 10.6m), wall thickness 5mm, with a sail area of 35sq m.  My sistership, Minke, has a solid timber mast that is 250mm at the partners but only 100mm at the truck and I noticed it flexed a lot more. 

Roger Fullerton wrote:

Hello all,

I recently got a Forestier junk and set off to sail across the Pacific to New Zealand from St Martin. Unfortunately the forward mast snapped after a week in roughly 20 knots of wind. It neatly fell over the boat, 2 ropes where cut and the mast and sail are now somewhere in the Caribbean sea.

There are pictures in the photo section of the snapped mast, the silicon seal around the other mast and a towel inside wrapped around the mast to prevent water getting inside.

Now I understand why there is so much discussion on here about mast boots, a silicon bead around the bottom does not do the job.

The previous mast was Oregon planks laminated into a solid mast with a hole down the center for wires. The mast snapped where it meets the deck, around the outer circumference the split parallel to the deck and very clean. The theory so far is that the protective layer was worn down where the mast and deck meet, the silicon bead did nothing to prevent water getting in, it probably rotted around that area and eventually broke.

 Trying to get replacement mast in Panama was not successful so the boat is back in Whangarei, NZ now for repairs.

After the mishap I am leaning towards replacing them with steel masts because hopefully they are stronger, lighter and don't sway so much when having to go up the mast.

Are there any good reasons to stay with wooden masts? From the forums the major advantages seem to be the mast bending reduces boat rolling and it doesn’t rust.

Hi Roger

My friend, Marcus, saw your boat at Ray Robertsmarina late last week.  Welcome to NZ. It must have been quite an epic passage, across the Pacific and dismasted.  How did the boat handle under just one sail?

I was surprised to see in the photo, that there didn't appear to be any wedges around the mast - it must have been a very snug fit in the partners.  I could imagine that the mast could be damaged and let the water in.  How old was it?  From the photos, it doesn't look rotten, but it's hard to be sure with a photo.  I wonder if it was too small for the job. How big was it, and what sail area did it carry?  Regardless, you wouldn't expect it to fall over the side in 20 knots of wind.

I'm not sure that steel masts are stronger than a wooden mast - they are lighter than a solid one of similar strength but I'm afraid they are no less unpleasant to climb up.  However, good douglas fir is not cheap here, although high-grade second hand wood can be found.

There are three junk-rigged boats here with steel masts - one here in Whangarei and the other two in Auckland.  Another choice is to buy a 6m section of alloy and to build a wooden topmast that extends it to the correct length.  Or you could consider getting a fibreglass topmast made to do the same job.  There is a bloke here who reckons he can make one as stiff and strong as alloy.

Junk masts shouldn't bend - well at least not that noticeably.  If yours bent, then it implies it was too light a section for the sail.  Personally I can see many advantages to a wooden mast, but I would always coat one with glass and epoxy myself.  A steel mast shouldn't rust if it is manufactured correctly and galvanised - you pays your money and you takes your choice.

Please feel free to get in touch if you think I can help.