Another Lousy Day in Paradise - and Then -

[Geoduck]

Just Google up -Chemotherapy for rot

[sailpower]

Very informative thread. Thanks.

GDuck, are you going to replace the mizzen mast while you are at it? New booms?

[Geoduck]

It all depends on what the Great White Claims Adjuster says.
Worst case scenario - I build it myself or find a used mast.
Best case scenario - I get a whole new aluminum rig.
Should find out in a few days.
My problem is deciding to go alum or stay original.
I dont know if I go aluminum will that add or subtract value in the boat?
It's an old classic.
Should I keep it as original as possible or go modern in the rigging?
I certainly would enjoy the ease of sailing with a modern, light weight rig.
The boat would stand up straighter for sure which would not doubt improve on hull speed I would think.
A nice lite boom would be nice - I get tired of wrestling with the heavy timber boom.
I dont know what to think right now.
As far as the market go's - the cost is about the same.
Is the boat worth more kept original or with a new aluminum rig?
OPINIONS WELCOME!

[zeehag]

geoduck--i would use hollow box booms and masts--build em and enjoy for long time..the hollow ones arent as heavy as the solid ones and work well. mine are hollow box built booms and masts. they dont hurt when i hit 'em with my head as much as the solid ones used to...

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by Geoduck

I dont know what to think right now.
As far as the market go's - the cost is about the same.
Is the boat worth more kept original or with a new aluminum rig?
OPINIONS WELCOME!

IMHO I think an aluminum mast would look out of place unless you were to go all aluminum, booms and all. Besides, the next mast will probably out live you anyway.

[HappySeagull]

Aluminum , because 100 million of them out there But it makes annoying clanging sounds....
...and finding and building a hollow wood one is an expensive and big project unless you love DIY. For good Sitka spruce, you compete with the Instrument makers. Clear edge grain Fir is a similar luxury item..

Solid pole, shaped to a rectangle if you like, might be too funky-looking on your boat, But Lord Nelson would approve.

[Geoduck]

Yeah- well I have no intension of building solid spars. The original construction is hollow box construction and I'm going back with that or aluminum. It all depends on the Great White Claims adjuster.
I did find a great buy on VG fir, air dried, so my mind is made up on the wood choice. Fir, being closer in weight to the original spars and being stronger, tougher and more rot resistant than spruce - not to mention a hell of a lot cheaper - is my choice. End of story.
But, I'm still undecided which way to go if given a choice - wood or aluminum!
Decisions, decisions!

I'm just a little undecided about which way to go - wood or aluminum!

[Boracay]

Wood mostly seems to rot or split sooner or later. 99.9% of sailboat owners can't all be wrong.

Get a quote from a reputable aluminium mast maker or even a good DIY mob, remembering just how difficult it actually is to make a mast from wood to help you make up your mind. Think about just how easy an aluminium mast is...

Don't forget to check with your insurance company as to whether they will actually insure wooden masts, particularly an amateur built one.

My opinion is that stiff is good, if it's too stiff you could bolt some weights under the deck! Myself I'd add some extra water or fuel tanks to bring the boat down to it's marks.

[zeehag]

just sayin--my spruce hollow box masts are both good and no rot since placed in 1976. wood is not a problem, the owners and lack of maintenance are the only problem with wood anything.
wood masts are repairable more readily than are aluminum.

[Geoduck]

I wonder how it would look with new aluminum sticks?

[Boracay]

Nice looking boat.

My first thought was tubular brown anodised aluminium.

Weight is not a major concern so why not go with some nice thick tube, or even, if you want to keep your existing fittings, a square section aluminium extrusion?

You may even be able to construct the mast in sections (maybe even ones that could fit in an anodising tank) and sleeve them together.

As with all internet advice getting a reputable spar maker on board is essential.

[DumnMad]

Boat looks a great vintage. With what you know about timber you could easily keep it authentic without the risk of rot re-occuring. As for aluminum; its cheap, light and low maintenance; but not wood. Insurance is normally obliged to reinstate which means wood. Would the boat keep its value if you had Al main and timber mizzen?

[zeehag]

boat would look funny with aluminum.....keep her wood. beautiful boat. absolutely gorgeous.

[chala]

I would like to see a 71 years old aluminium mast. I saw Gipsy Moth masts in Greenwich in 1974 and they looked pretty sorry, and then saw them again some years ago and after more than 300 000 pounds spent they did not look that flash. Aluminium rots too (corrodes), mostly at the base where there is always some moisture, dissimilar metal, pressure and movement. In contrast with a beautifully built wooden mast, a straight aluminium mast does not require great skill to put together. So in the right environment, with the right money and the right skill and also being able to reuse the existing fittings, I go wood and where ever I sail I would be able to admire a beautiful mast. I worked on a J class with two wooden masts, if it had two aluminium masts it would not have looked as luxurious. It would have looked as if it had been repaired on the cheap, or stripped down for racing.