Mast Hoops

[Stu Fyfe]

Just getting ready to launch Redwing for her 20th season and of course, I forgot the mast hoops. I've varnished them in the past, but it doesn't hold well. Anybody have suggestions for oiling them? What mixture works best and do I have to worry about the oil getting on the sails?

[Todd Bradshaw]

I think you might be safe with an oil like Deks Olje #1 or Watco once they were dry, but anything that stays oily on the surface will stain Dacron and the stains tend to spread out.