Source for Sitka Spruce, NE Essex

[ianc1200]

I need some Sitka Spruce for a pram dinghy mast, nothing special & only 10' long. Any suggestions for a source? Plans say either 3" x 3" or two 4" x 2" glued together. (I have a lot of old growth Douglas Fir, very tight growth rings but enough small knots such I don't think suitable).

 

[ridgy]

Does it have to be wood?
Not your answer but I have the plans for a Dix 8' dinghy that I'm trying to get round to making and that wants 50mm * 1.6mm aluminium tube which is light but strong enough to be unstayed.

 

[burgundyben]

I've got a bundle of dinghy spars hanging from the garage roof, I think Mirror and Fairey Duckling.

If one is suitable we just need to get it from Isle of Wight to Frinton.

 

[tillergirl]

Thorogoods at Ardleigh are the best timber place in NE Essex but they don't advertise Sitka. They do stock Douglas Fir. Worth a call though and discussiong the options.

 

[Bodach na mara]

I was going to say (but burgundyben got there first) that the mast for a Mirror dinghy is about 11 feet long. There are a lot of them about. They are not slotted with a sail groove but I am sure that they could be the base you need. Douglas fir is a bit heavy but quite strong.

3"×3" sounds a bit over sized for a small pram dinghy by the way.

 

[DownWest]

I have built a couple of masts from Doug Fir/Oregon pine with the birdsmouth system. Stiff & light.
Local metal stockist has 35 x 2.0 mm ally tube for €37 per 6 mtr length. Lot easier than making in wood.

 

[ianc1200]

Thanks for the replies. Think I need to look out for a secondhand wooden Mirror mast. I'm sure aluminium would work but it's tender to my bawley yacht & I'm going for a certain period feel.

 

[burgundyben]

I'll get the bundle down today and have a look.

I'm sure we could get it to you somehow.

 

[ianc1200]

Hi BB - I've just looked at a wooden Mirror mast - it's only 2" diameter. The mast for my pram build (Woodenboat Nutshell 9' 6") has to be 2 3/4" diameter. The mast for this dinghy is unstayed hence the thicker diameter I assume.

 

[burgundyben]

I'll report back. I think there's 2 rigs, one is Mirror and the other not sure (or even where it came from!).

 

[ianc1200]

Current position - long way to go!

 

[DownWest]

Aquaintance built the shorter version as his tender. Very useful little boat.

My comment earlier about the birdsmouth system, it produces a light stiff spar, even if using slightly heavier wood. On my 15ft faering, the mast, yard and boom were all made this way. Sounds complicated, but actually quite fun, even if I had a deadline to finish. You need a bench saw and/or a router, but possible in your container(?).

 

[burgundyben]

I braved the wonky step ladder an investigated.

There's one mast, 2" at the base and just over 9ft.

Sorry!

 

[ianc1200]

Thanks for the replies. Have plenty of Douglas Fir, several routers + JessEm router table with lift, but not sure what the birdsmouth system is. Also built the smaller version, about 89/90 but from Jewson's so called marine ply.... Cut that one up a few years ago. It was a superb towing tender.

 

[DownWest]

Thanks for the replies. Have plenty of Douglas Fir, several routers + JessEm router table with lift, but not sure what the birdsmouth system is. Also built the smaller version, about 89/90 but from Jewson's so called marine ply.... Cut that one up a few years ago. It was a superb towing tender.Here

Here:
Bird's Mouth Spars revisited
You can taper the 'square' side of each piece. It is self aligning with cable ties on a few supports on a flat bench.

 

[burgundyben]

Here:
Bird's Mouth Spars revisited
You can taper the 'square' side of each piece. It is self aligning with cable ties on a few supports on a flat bench.

I'd make a royal mess of that.

 

[DownWest]

I'd make a royal mess of that.

Doubt it with your experience. After a trial assembly, the glue up goes easily. The shapîng of the laths was not tricky either, just a jig on the DIY router table to feed them at 45° to the cutter. Did the lot in half an hour or less.