making a colombian pine 14ft mast

[nickjones]

The mast is for a 15ft lugger and the wood is recently aquired - close grained and fairly knot free.

Should I go ahead and shape it up - or do I need to cut it down the middle, reverse and glue?

Any tips on which glue etc would be gratefully received if the latter course of action is recommended

 

[Guest]

I think I would be tempted to saw it through and reverse end for end, then well clamped with with recoursenol (spelling?) glue. You could I suppose while it's split rout out the middle a bit to make it hollow, but I aint sure at that height that there would be any real advantage?

There are other folks that swear by different types of glue for this sort of job like epoxies and such, but most of the mast builders I have spoken to, use the above.

 

[Peterduck]

I'd go for just shaping it up. The only reason for ripping it up and reversing one side would be so that you can hollow it out, which may be valid if you're the local club champion and every last ounce will make a difference. Keep It Strong and Simple.
Peter.

 

[Guest]

Ripping down the middle and turning end for end, produces a stronger mast, hollowed out or not.

 

[nickjones]

Thanks lads. I phoned Jeremy of Collars today with the same question, and he went with the view held by Peterduck - so, on balance, I favour the easier option.