epoxy on doug fir mast?

[Dave Gray]

Well, I'm just finishing up on my solid doug fir mast for my boat which was laminated out of 5 strips of 3/4", finished dimension at its widest is 3" and it is 11' long. I'm wondering if I should apply a coat of epoxy before varnishing it - probably thinned so I don't spend the next year sanding the epoxy smooth. Any opinions? It's for my Pooduck.

[paladin]

since it is already made...yes..I would epoxy it......
Also I would have made the laminations with an equal number of laminates...

[Thorne]

I'd say in the order of preference: CPES, thinned epoxy, and epoxy -- but then the varnish needs a good UV blocker.

What boat and what size sail?

I just finished a DF mast made of 2 2x4x16's glued together with Weldwood, but the 3" diameter only goes up about 4' and then tapers to 2" at the top -- and it seems really heavy to me for my 14' dory. I'm thinking of reducing the diameter to 2" for more of the length, but am not sure...

[Dave Gray]

Thanks, Searover, but 3 coats of epoxy seems like a bit much for a mast on what will be mostly a dry sailed boat - heavy too. The idea is for some protection. I think one coat of thinned epoxy and several coats of varnish (I've been using Schooners on the rest of the boat) will be enough.

I chose 3/4" fir since I don't have a table saw, five lams made the requisite thickness. The mast starts off at 2", becomes 3" at one foot, and tapers to one and a half inches at its top. I found out, today (t is actually a bit less), that I should have cut the slot for the lanyard before I rounded it to make life easier but I think it turned out OK. Mostly I have been resembling a human belt sander lately. I took a 24" belt, cut it, put sticks on the ends, and did the old shoe shine trick up and down the mast. The half mask ventilator was a good thing to have, let me tell you,

Thanks for the replies everyone.