douglas fir old growth mast

[kingwoodie]

Anyone know where I can find some old growth Douglas Fir poles in the 60 foot range? I would like to replace my current main pole if possible.
Thanks
Ray

[rwidman]

Have you tried Home Depot and Lowes?


OK, try a "real" lumber yard if there's one still left in your neighborhood. They won't have what you want in stock but they may know where to get it or at least point you in the right direction. You'll have to look for an employee who has been there a long time and knows his way around the business.


And of course there's Google.

[PaulSommers]

Try woodworking companies in the Boathaven Boatyard, Port of Port Townsend, and the Wooden Boat Center in Pt. Townsend. Somebody close their has the log you want sitting and drying in a nearby yard!

[kingwoodie]

Paul: Thanks for the info. Boathaven in Port Townsend has a fir stick and can do the job. I'm going to take my schooner over to them and have the stick replaced rather than just fixed. Three times more expensive but worth it
Thanks
Kingwoodie

[Lepke]

Another source for a wood mast is a wood pole company. There are several on the US West Coast. Probably Canada, too. They buy trees in deep canyons, etc.

[Cormorant]

Or build one yourself hollow birdsmouth style. Big weight-aloft savings, but maybe that's not a top priority. The great thing about hollow birdsmouth is you can make a superior mast out of smaller sticks.

[roland stockham]

Sail up the coast and cut your own? Lots of places in Canada that can supply but it probably would be cheaper to bring the boat rather than have it shipped!

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by roland stockham

Sail up the coast and cut your own? Lots of places in Canada that can supply but it probably would be cheaper to bring the boat rather than have it shipped!

If you do this go for Spruce. :>)

[roland stockham]

If you want to get an idea of price try this place Kiln Dried Douglas Fir Timbers | Sidney, BC, Canada

[SkiprJohn]

There isn't any in Hawaii. I'd look for sitka spruce but fir would be easier to find. You'll want it to have been drying for quite some time so don't just go cut an old tree. The glued box or birdsmouth would be the best.

Port Townsend is your best choice.

[john caldwell]

Is your original stick really past it? Old oregon can often be of a superior grade to present day material.
and good scarfing of any problem areas(if Needed) on the existing mast is economical and eminently strong if the stick is up to it. Have you had a shipwrights appraisal regarding this this mast.

[squarerigger]

I just did a quick estimate, but if you consider our actively sailed vessels only we have a total of 61 wooden spars as large or larger than yours (some of them more than a century old), most of them much much larger, setting in excess of 50,000 square feet of canvas. If I were you I'd get in touch with Tfimberworks, the main supplier we use.

Hope this helps.

Best