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tinyredtornado
05-04-2002, 05:51 PM
Hullo All-
When I had a leak in my hull, the best advice I received was from this board- "just go sail it!" Worked like a charm. The boards swelled up and the leak disappeared. So thanks for that, and for this problem, thanks in advance!
I've just taken my mast down to bare wood, and have a few questions.

1. To linseed oil or not to linseed oil? The mast hasn't been pulled in a few years, and although (apparently) structurally sound, is *very* dry. I would like to varnish the mast, not paint it.

2.There is an area on the mast which has been glued down. A wedge shaped peice of wood split from the main body of the mast, went 4 inches back and 1.5 inches deep, and was glued down. The split has not advanced, nor do I expect it to, however the glue is crumbling superficially, but not too deeply into the join, i.e. the glue looks like it's holding well, but the external bit is failing. I've been told to epoxy it, to glue it, to clamp it, to avoid glue and clamping at all costs, and also just to varnish over it. Any other thoughts? I'd like to get to it on Monday but with all these suggestions, I'm not sure how to proceed.

3.I've been told to epoxy and paint just the masthead, in order to strengthen it. What do you think? Knarrs have a funky sickle shape that the backstay runs over. Bonus points if someone can tell me what the proper name for this is.

Well that's about it for now. ANY suggestions are appreciated. Thanks so much for reading!

Bob Cleek
05-04-2002, 06:29 PM
Whoever told you to "epoxy the masthead and paint over it to strengthen it" has his head up his ass. Don't change anything from the original. There's nothing wrong with a Knarr mast. If the glue lines are letting go, then take some hardwood wedges and CAREFULLY spread them until they split to solid glue. Squirt in some epoxy thickened with colloidal silica as an adhesive (get a syringe from your West Epoxy dealer, if need be.) Clamp it LIGHTLY (just to hold the shape, the epoxy will fill the gap.) Then sand the bare pole well and smooth and soak in CPES and varnish it with eight or ten coats. Put the hardware back on using liberal amounts of Dolphinite bedding compound. Simple as that.