Wooden Spars-----Care of.

[FWB]

My douglas fir (?) Mast and bowsprit on my gaff cutter need revarnishing or at least attention. Do they have to be varnished? Is it not possible to epoxy them so that they never need to be done again ? Or 2 pack Poly paint ? Cant see why in the 21st Century I should have to have my spars constantly revarnished. Any thoughts ?

 

[Mirelle]

First, the bad news...

Epoxy fails rapidly under ultra-violet light ,softens in warm temperatures, and chips in cold weather, which are three reasons why it is not used on wooden spars.

What you CAN use is Coelan, a specialised type of polyurethane, which has several times the life expectancy of varnish, though the initial application requires just as much work to get a decent result.

 

[FWB]

Re: First, the bad news...

Thanks for that. I had thought that strip planked boats were covered in epoxy and so looked as if varnished. But I guess that from what you say they cant be. My plan was to have a layer of glass cloth epoxied to the spars.
I'll see what the yard say about Coelan.

 

[Mirelle]

Coating strip planks

You can coat with epoxy and then coat that with a 2 pack polyurethane varnish with a very strong UV filter in it.

SP Systems make one and I'm sure West do too, but it's not flexible enough for spars.

 

[FWB]

Re: Coating strip planks

Well, fortunately the spars are the only maintenance item on the boat. So I guess I can put up with getting them done as need be, Thanks for info.

 

[SwedishLass]

Re: Coating strip planks

The coach roofs are hot moulded ply then cloth covered and epoxied. To maintain the finish I flat by hand and apply three coats of international goldspar every year. No brand preference but it seems to tolerate low temperature application and I am used to it. I am normally varnishing in February (in a barn). I warm the tin on a platewarmer before using it. I have achieved the best finish in frosty conditions as the air is very dry and still. (I have trouble reading what it says on the tin!) The spars use the same varnish but as there is much more flex and denting from the claw I would not trust the epoxy to maintain a waterproof seal and once the water gets underneath it stays there. I try to be fastidious about frapping halyards and keep a jar of varnish with a brush inside for touch up.

 

[FWB]

Re: Coating strip planks

Lovely boat Grahame, I'll get the yard to varnish or Coelan the spars. Unfortunately have no painting or varnishing skills myself.

 

[nrorke]

One advantage of a wooden mast that needs to be re-varnished annually is that you get to inspect all the shackles, sheaves and other bits up there that can otherwise get neglected. It horifies me to see all these fibreglass thingies with their masts left up all winter, probably more than one winter, and never a second thought given to all the bits and pieces beyond normal eyesight.