Hollow spars of fiberglass and some wood

[Rick Clark]

Rick here first time post.
I have built a 15' mast and 15' gaffs and booms using 1" hollow fiberglass tubing. I would layer wraps of cloth around in 45 deg. going up and down and the, run 2' strips lengths wise all the time sanding it to the taper from 2" to 1 1/2 at the head I put a 1" dowel in the top 2' inside and 3' out and tapered it to 1 1/4". In the foot of the mast I put a piece of 1 1/2 " alum. over the first 2' for the boom to ride on. Inside the bottom of the alum. Tube, I put a hard wood dowel inside and epoxied it in and left 16" out to slide in the mast housing, which is heavy wall alum. 2' long.
I did a static test by putting it in a metal fence post sail was 14’X 12’ lanteen. On that day the wind was a force 4-6 I was holding the sheet and a gust hit so hard that it pulled me off my feet, but it did not break it just flexed and spilled the air out.
I have had nothing but good luck with these. It is heavy on the bottom end but I still anchor it to the deck. If you have any ?'s email me.
Thanks for this site Rick
smile.gif smile.gif

[ 11-21-2005, 08:51 PM: Message edited by: Rick Clark ]

[StevenBauer]

How much does all that weigh? Seems like a lot of work.

Steven

[Rick Clark]

HI Steve Well it is a lot of work, but the best thing is it will not break like a hollow wood mast. I built it to use in my 12' old town stillwater. I can make up many differnt sails and use on the mast, it weights in at 8#s but I sit in the rear of the canoe, I also use a 20# anchor and leave it in the bow to help trim out the canoe.
I built a mast pocket that will clamp onto any canoe up to 44" wide. My leeboards are locked togerther with a bar and it also is moveable to any boat, so no matter sail configuration I use the sail will work. smile.gif
At this time I am building a 21 footer X 42" wide and 20 " mid of strip 5.2 mm ply it is going to be a decked with a opening for one, Four bulkheads, all water tight, I am retired so next year I am going to hit the Scaramento River in the late spring, and the onto the Mississippi in the fall.

I live in Utah so I over build everything as not to have a problem on the water.
Hey thanks for the interst in it Rick :cool:

[ 11-22-2005, 04:45 PM: Message edited by: Rick Clark ]

[Rick Clark]

Hi Steve I forgot to tell you thet I use a constrictor knots to hold the halyard pully that way it can be moved up and down to mast to meet the needs of any sail. The only time I use my 6' mast is when I will be in a river with alot of tree over hang. I also teach knotting to the Boy Scouts in my county. Good luck, I have lots of tricks up my sleeve when it comes to sailing canoes. Rick :cool:

[ 11-22-2005, 04:58 PM: Message edited by: Rick Clark ]