Mast Splicing

[lesweeks]

Bit of a multi-post I'm afraid. I put the following on the Wanted Forum but it sets the scene for my question.

I bought my restoration project yawl with a broken mast. The bit I have is about 21' long and I estimate that there is about 8 feet missing from the top. So I'm after a suitable piece to splice on. I'm guessing that something about 12-13 feet would allow for the splice (and my under-estimation!). Diameter about 4". Anyone got anything suitable kicking around?
Boat on the Essex East Coast.

Question: When splicing a mast I guess that 1:10 or so would be about right for the taper. But what I don't know is whether the V of the splice should face fore & aft or across the beam? Also I'm told that epoxy may not be flexible enough for a long & wide splice so which adhesive would be best and would the splice require a pin or dowel?

 

[Roach1948]

I needed to get my mast scarphed too. In the end it was so tricky (as the mast is quite thin at the top) that I had it done professionally. Not pinned. Used epoxy - no problems yet. The "V" (on the top section) faces fore and aft. Hope this helps.

 

[Kukri]

My boat has a built up spruce mast and the scarphs are 12:1 and run fore and aft, not athwartship, if this helps.

 

[stephenh]

Yes, 12 : 1 was the old Lloyds A1 spec. for scarph repairs - might have changed now with modern glues.

 

[DownWest]

This has come up elsewere. 12:1 still considered best. I built a birdsmouth and, as the laths were not long enough, used staggered splices.
I am doing another this winter, a bit bigger at 6.5mt. and will use the same system. As it is deck stepped I put the splices alternately near the head and heel. Even so I consider the splices as good as solid wood. All done with epoxy. With this system it is impractical to use Resourcinol as one cannot get the clamping pressures required. If you use a clothes-peg joint then then it would be OK.
Hope this helps,
Andrew
Epoxy is reativly flexable compared to some other glues, different formulations from different companys. I gather system-3 have some good ones.

 

[lesweeks]

Thanks guys, this is all very useful info. 12:1 it is.
All I've got to do now is find a suitable piece of timber.