Wooden masts in winter

[pezza3434]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently looking for my first keelboat here in the solent, and take a very strong fancy to the Nordic Folkboats. I want to cruise, with a little bit of racing thrown in.

I'm looking for a plastic boat and my concern is that most of the ones for sale seem to have a wooden mast. I'd like to keep the boat in the water for as much of the year as possible as sailing on a nice winters day is part of the fun for me.

But, does a wooden mast mean I'll have to the boat out and mast unstepped every winter so the mast can go in storage?

Thanks everyone, appreciate the information.

 

[Tranona]

Depends on what it is coated with. I had a wooden masted boat for 35 years and I used to drop it every year until I discovered Sikkens woodstains. Initially I used Novatec/top 2 part which would last 5 or 6 years mast up before requiring a refresher. However it was heavily pigmented and looked bark and murky - trade off for long life. Just before I sold the boat I stripped the mast and used Cetol HLS and No7 2 part system which is available in a light pine tint. I expect it will last much the same -10-12 years with an interim rub down and recoat with No7 top coat

The photos speak for themselves.

 

[pezza3434]

Thanks

Depends on what it is coated with. I had a wooden masted boat for 35 years and I used to drop it every year until I discovered Sikkens woodstains. Initially I used Novatec/top 2 part which would last 5 or 6 years mast up before requiring a refresher. However it was heavily pigmented and looked bark and murky - trade off for long life. Just before I sold the boat I stripped the mast and used Cetol HLS and No7 2 part system which is available in a light pine tint. I expect it will last much the same -10-12 years with an interim rub down and recoat with No7 top coat

The photos speak for themselves.

Thanks Tranona, stunning boat you had there.

Are you saying that with these new woodstains it's ok to leave the mast up through the winter?

Thanks a lot

 

[jamie N]

I've a wooden Folkboat, with a wooden mast.
I'm on my 2nd mast. The 1st mast had rot under the hounds which caused its ultimate demise. However, the mast was 'Le Tonkinoised' every other year, a little bit of rubbing down, but nothing serious.
My 'new' mast has been up for nearly a year having been given a few coats of 'Le Tonk' before raising, and still looks superb. All of my boat is protected by 'Le Tonkinois', which has a lot of area to cover, this picture in Wick a couple of weeks ago!
A couple of caveats though, I'm quite a way further North than you, thus the UV is less violent, albeit we get longer days in summer, which may or may not have an effect.
I'm a fan of 'Le Tonkinois', others are of Epifanes, and others as Tranona has stated.
I believe that they're all OK, and preference is personal. It's the getting it done the right way with the initial coats that is the key.
I've always left my mast up over winter, as I sail then also.

 

[Tranona]

Thanks


Thanks Tranona, stunning boat you had there.

Are you saying that with these new woodstains it's ok to leave the mast up through the winter?

Thanks a lot

Yes. Afloat with the boat facing west so got the prevailing winds and sun on one side which obviously did degrade a bit more. However the mast with Nova on it sat on the mast rack outside for 9 years and over half of the circumference was still sound before I stripped it back to bare wood to use the Cetol.

I use the woodstains on the wooden bargeboards on my house which is exposed to the south and west as well as sheds. One shed is nearly 40 years old and has only been refinished once, The other is about 25 years old mostly sheltered but the exposed end could do with recoating.

 

[pezza3434]

This is all very interesting, thanks everyone. Why do I feel like I've read somewhere that the frost can damage wooden masts? Or am I making that up?

Thanks!

 

[jamie N]

I'm in Inverness where we 'do' frost, and it's not caused any damage. However, it would be bad to have fresh varnish trying to dry in frosty weather, but you'd know that.
By the way, great choice of boat for Solent cruising on a 'week by weekend' basis. I'm just back from a fortnight of Orkney, and am away at the end of the month for another month, but I'm solo.
A Folkboat is so good at pretty much everything, but not bad at anything either.

 

[pezza3434]

I'm in Inverness where we 'do' frost, and it's not caused any damage. However, it would be bad to have fresh varnish trying to dry in frosty weather, but you'd know that.
By the way, great choice of boat for Solent cruising on a 'week by weekend' basis. I'm just back from a fortnight of Orkney, and am away at the end of the month for another month, but I'm solo.
A Folkboat is so good at pretty much everything, but not bad at anything either.

Thanks Jamie, really appreciate your thoughts on this.

 

[Plum]

This is all very interesting, thanks everyone. Why do I feel like I've read somewhere that the frost can damage wooden masts? Or am I making that up?

Thanks!

My wood keel-stepped mast stands all year (Essex) with no damage from frost. I last varnished it 14 years ago and appart from minor localised damage from a few knocks it is still in good condition!

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Buck Turgidson]

You might look for an IF (international folkboat). Same hull with a slightly more cruising oriented cabin and alloy mast. I think the Nordics have a wooden mast to stay in class but may be wrong. I do like them.