Torpmarsts

[Beadle]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Or even topmasts

Well only 1 really - but its knackered

And I have not a clue how to go about replacing it.

Its about 20ft long - maybe 10 in diameter at base and tapering a bit to the top.

Do I look around for a suitable tree and try to nick it?

Not sure it would fit on roof rack.

Any ideas or suggestions would be welcome.

PS

Cheap would be good - but I guess unlikely

 

[sarabande]

we have some ordinary pine trees around of the right size, but you really need silver spruce to save weight.

Perhaps a telegraph pole could be planed down a bit ?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l2736&_nkw=telegraph+pole

 

[Danielmc]

Bob Snow in Yarmouth is a well regarded manufacturer of wooden spars for non-plastic boats:

www.http://maritimeiow.co.uk/

01983 761790

 

[sarabande]

give Woods of Crediton a call ? They may have some masts lying around their yard.

http://www.woods-group.co.uk/index.html

 

[Greenheart]

Any chance of seeing a photograph of the vessel that needs such a spar?

 

[Beadle]

Yes

There is a chance

Have a glance at this

http://www.tyneships.co.uk/photos/OlivePage.jpg

Sorry can't put the piccy in the thread.

 

[Greenheart]

Very pretty. Like one of Northshore's finest, with a much more interesting rig.

View attachment 20113

What's her LOA, if as you say, that topmast is 20' in length?

 

[Beadle]

Not quite Northshore I'm afraid.

She is a Colvic Watson 34.5 with a bit added on the pointy end

Gaff rigged with wooden masts, both in tabernacles.

To make life easier there is a 120HP Perkins under the wheelhouse floor

Looking at the picture I think I overestimated the length of the topmast - it looks longer looking up from the deck

 

[Greenheart]

Very handy all round, I'm sure. Sorry, I haven't a clue where you'll pick up another topmast.

 

[alahol2]

Part of this be any good?

 

[Beadle]

Thanks for taking the trouble to post, but its rather too thin.

My topmast is at least 50% greater diameter

Pity

 

[whipper_snapper]

give Woods of Crediton a call ? They may have some masts lying around their yard.

http://www.woods-group.co.uk/index.html

My absolutely all time favorite shop in the world, ever. They could charge admission.

 

[Greenheart]

Here's a silly question that shows how little I know about the wooden shipwright's business...

...but wouldn't it be possible to sand/chainsaw a redundant telegraph pole into the exact proportions for Beadle's purpose?

Strong enough, and thick enough. And there must be an Old Poles' retirement home somewhere, this side of Warsaw.

 

[sarabande]

#2

[/sigh]

 

[Greenheart]

#2

[/sigh]

Was that "oh my god, can Dan really be that stupid?", or "Sound idea"?

 

[Greenheart]

Beadle, unless my idea is lousy for some reason I don't understand, I'd strongly recommend a look here: http://www.kilgraney.com/KFtelegraphpoles.htm

£154, by the looks of it...

 

[Beadle]

Obviously a case of great minds - alhough Sarabande did mention it 1st.

But whatever that is the plan

There are a few places on E-Bay flogging of used poles - so I'll be looking for a nice
26ft light and a big power plane in the near future.

I have had one quote for £1000 - 1200 so should be a big saving. At least thats my line to take with SWMBO - I'm not spending £200, rather I'm saving £1000.

Its worth a try.

I do however still have he isue of taking down the old one

 

[Greenheart]

Apologies to Sarabande - I hadn't looked hard enough at the earlier posts...no pun intended.

Although, I think the Kilgraney link I found looks like a really professional crew of people, dedicated to trading in telegraph poles, of all things...whereas the Ebay sellers mayn't be so concerned with consistent quality...

 

[Greenheart]

Last month I wrote an article on one of the UK's biggest builders' merchants. There was quite a lot, on the company's various impressive milling facilities. The massive machines in those places might be able to reduce months of work with plane & sander, into five minutes...

 

[Beadle]

That sounds interesting

In fact could it be Jewson interesting?