Sitka spruce for mast?

[Al Watts]

Thanks for earlier responses regarding bronze hardware for the 15’ Wittholz catboat we’re building; we’re going with JM Reineck and Son; ‘knows the boat and has been very helpful.
New question: ‘Any recommendations for a Sitka spruce supplier for our 20’ mast, gaff and boom? Minnesota, Wisconsin or Florida preferred, or could ship to Florida.

[Hugh Conway]

Forest product supply in Maplewood has carried 4/4 Sitka in the past (and still lists a price so could presumably order it), so has the woodcraft in Bloomington.

[Todd Bradshaw]

You can also get it from McCormick Lumber in Madison. They're iceboaters, so when you mention a mast they know what you are looking for.

https://mccormicklumber.com/sitka-spruce

[Al Watts]

You can also get it from McCormick Lumber in Madison. They're iceboaters, so when you mention a mast they know what you are looking for.

https://mccormicklumber.com/sitka-spruce

Thanks Todd; I’ll check it out.

[Al Watts]

Thanks Hugh. We’ve checked with Forest Products. That’s an option, but they don’t have 20 foot lengths; we’re debating the merits of scarfing and epoxying segments or maybe switching to Douglas fir.

[Ian McColgin]

Sitka Spruce is the gold standard of spars but your hull will stand up to aloft weight of a fir stick. We are taught that weight aloft is bad but it can slow your roll, from which some boats benefit.

but scarfing is not a problem. I like 12:1 faying surfaces and I make them dead accurate - no highs and no lows. I dry fit so all way of keeping the work in place are covered, remembering that epoxy is a lubricant till it sets. I use unthickened epoxy until the faying surfaces cannot take more, the on one surface a coat of mildly thickened epoxy before anything goes off, clamp them together.

It would not be odd to have the mast made up of four long pieces that are themselves made up of end pieces to reach desired length. Stagger the scarfs.

G'luck

[Mike.Higgins.94301]

I built the mast Ian described for my 14' catboat, which has roughly the same hull as you are building. That stick has held up to hard sailing on San Francisco Bay for over 20 years.

ATT Park.jpg

[Al Watts]

I built the mast Ian described for my 14' catboat, which has roughly the same hull as you are building. That stick has held up to hard sailing on San Francisco Bay for over 20 years.

ATT Park.jpg

Thanks Ian and Mike; ‘very helpful. We will likely go the route you’re suggesting.
Al

[Andrew2]

There was an article in Classic Boat about building the mast for one of the biggies. 160 odd feet. They sourced the sitka from Canada, but it was not easy, as almost impossible now. Glued it with a version of eurea formaldahyde, as that gave the best results in lab test for ageing.

[Sharpie21]

Don't overlook the supply that might be serendipitously available from your local lumber yard. I'm not talking about the big box stores, but the small local yards. Go there early on a Saturday morning and peruse the longer lengths of 2x6 and 2x8. Or even the wider stuff. IF you're lucky you will find beautiful long lengths of spruce with tight pencil sized knots and 20+ growth rings per inch. I've built several spars from material sourced this way, with excellent results, and really good prices compared to the specialty marine sources. Oh, and be sure to stack the lumber neatly when your're done rooting through the piles. Else the yard men will give you the evil eye next time you come in.

[Jim Ledger]

Don't overlook Spruce scaffold planks. They're not Sitka, probably Black Spruce, which is an excellent mast material.

https://www.ihlcanada.com/2-in-x-10-...ld-plank-21859

[JimConlin]

Don't overlook Spruce scaffold planks. They're not Sitka, probably Black Spruce, which is an excellent mast material.

https://www.ihlcanada.com/2-in-x-10-...ld-plank-21859

Are scaffold planks likely available locally? The shipping of one or two is high.