This would be my choice for a big steel boat.

Thanks for the help guys!

I reckon the steel may be a viable option :) but, wood always wins hands down when it comes to aesthetics!

I'm thinking about re-doing my masts. The shrouds on my three masts chafes whenever the boom is eased out to +45 degrees. The raked foremast is the worst. The curve of the sails at the top of the mast starts to rub. I read in Chasing the Dragon's Tail that Tin Hau had short spreaders on the mast top to alleviate this chafing. 

But it would be nice to be free standing. This will eliminate the shroud chafing. Also, sailing downwind, the sails can be properly squared out. My front sails are always unsettled on a dead down run because the mizzen blankets the other two sails.

Maybe I can truncate the mast at the middle, and weld in a tapered conical steel mast extension (just to reduce weight on top; my current masts are un-tapered). Also, for added strength, insert a wooden plug, like Simon Foster did on page 23 of issue 75 Newsletter. Then I can say goodbye to the shrouds.

We're heading to Indonesia next year, and want to do this in Malaysia or Thailand. Anybody have suggestions on getting steel poles and wooden masts?

Thanks,

Annie Hill wrote:

And this would be mine!!

Annie

Could i build my masts using the same method you and Pete used when building Badgers masts?

If so, could you tell me how you did it?

Trev 

TREVOR PANRUCKER wrote:

Could i build my masts using the same method you and Pete used when building Badgers masts?

If so, could you tell me how you did it?

Trev 

Sorry, Trevor, I meant to reply sooner, but your posting slipped down and I overlooked it. 

I would have thought that you could easily build your masts like we made ours.  We used, basically, 6x2 Douglas Fir and epoxy.  UK douglas fir, which we picked over.  Because they were laminated, the odd knot wasn't an issue.  We got the basic size and then roughly cut them to shape. At the partners, we just glued on offcuts from the top of the masts until it was fat enough.  Then we did the usual of octagon, sixteen sides and then round.  Square below the partners.  We routed a groove down the side for the tricolour light and even fitted lightning conductors.  Then we glassed the mast with - I think- two layers of woven rovings, just to provide a hard, slippery surface, not to add strength.  Coated them with epoxy and then a coat or two slightly thickened with silica - even harder and fills the weave a bit faster.  Sanded.  Painted with the two-part polyurethane of your choice. As far as I know they are still around and have never needed anything more than a repaint.  They were heavy, but it didn't really seem to be an issue, and Badger was only moderate displacement.

I can scan some photos if you need them.