S2E55 Building my $200 Cruising Mast (28 feet) Part 1

[@tonykazz2779]

Hello from Florida, I'm a retired Engineer taking up Wood working. ! KZbin is a fascinating source for learning from creatives. ( like you ! ) Thank You I've watched nearly 100% of your videos beginning with you sailing the Atlantic. I'm noticing you don't wear knee pads and don't seem to have a personal pet ( but live immersed in Mother Natures vast range of creatures ). From You I've discovered your endlessly useful 4 saw horses ( that I'm about to clone ) Thank you again. I'm admiring your little router plate for rounding bits, I immediately started creating my own version, Thank You again!!! All through the 8 decades of my life I've been puzzled by my ancestors starting with nearly nothing yet thriving , how did they accomplish it ??? ( Immigrated to Wisconsin in the 1840's ) Watching you and Mrs. homestead helps me understand what it takes and how it's done. whew!! Your stories are demonstrating Quality of Life more than sailing, building, homesteading and social integrity. I had an engineering career of building large Diesel engines, I should've been a Carpenter !! Thank You Tony Kazz

[@RoversAdventure]

Those saw horses are now 15 years old and still going strong. I built the mini router table 30 years ago as an apprentice and have used it on more projects than I can remember. Thanks for the comment Tony.

[@tonykazz2779]

@@RoversAdventure Thank you for writing back ! I'm awed by the versatility of your 4 horses , they seem to also be work benches, scaffolding, saw stands, work table supports, and more, they are an inspired solution to a range of problems and needs. Brilliant !! It seems like they will be part-of every future project.

[@nickgoodall578]

Alan casually flexing his framing chops with the full-depth, blind, free-hand, circular saw rip. Kids at home might want to try that on some scrap the first time. It’s just about the biggest cut your saw can make!

[@RoversAdventure]

I used to work with massive timbers as a second year apprentice using a 10" circular saw. You are absolutely right about doing a bit of practice before attempting this for the first time.

[@nickgoodall578]

@@RoversAdventure It shows.

[@Garryck-1]

Nice job, Alan! I was a little disappointed that you barely touched on the importance of staggering the scarf joints. Some of the first-time builders watching this might not realise why this is so essential.

[@RoversAdventure]

Great point! I sometimes feel that folks are getting a little bored with some of the detailed explanations.

[@Garryck-1]

@@RoversAdventure - Fair point, but remember, for most of your viewers, everything about boat-building and wood-working is new to them. It need not be too detailed, just a "this is what I'm doing, and this is why I'm doing it this way" kind of thing.

[@tomwaite4594]

What a great start to the series on the mast build out. Can not wait to see the mast take shape as the chips fly! Thanks for your high quality content and edit as always.

[@RoversAdventure]

Thank you Tom for your always positive comments.

[@curtishill6490]

So interesting how it's made and the choice to go with wood I think will serve you well! Thanks so much Alan for the share 😁I love to learn how it's done! Stay safe and healthy Alan and Mrs Rover! 🙏

[@RoversAdventure]

Thanks Curtis

[@TheBeaker59]

It will be interesting to see how that goes I did a similar thing on my project an 11 ft sailing dinghy with a short mast for a sprit rig, In the end a friend came around just as I finished it, I was not happy with the weight, and said he had a carbon fiber mast I could have for free. The Mast was also a tad short for a sail I found at a great price so it was an easy decision. I have kept the wood mast though as I have a smaller sail so might develop 2 rigs one big for speed and one easy for teaching my Granddaughters.

[@RoversAdventure]

In the next video, I weigh the mast and I think that it will surprise many.

[@TheBeaker59]

@@RoversAdventure Don't get me wrong I'm not knocking the idea, plenty of solid wood masts out there. Its a very interesting aspect to the build.

[@churchofthegreenflipflop2436]

Looking forward to the next video. Interested to see how you do it :-)

[@howtosailoceans1423]

Wow, you put the cross cuts so close together that you cleared the wastage with the claw of a hammer! Haven't seen that done before, usually use a chisel. Looks like you managed pretty clear pine for construction grade.

[@RoversAdventure]

We managed to get some pretty good pieces all things considered.

[@peterb9038]

Thanks Alan, that was lot more interesting than watching a video of you shopping for a flagpole. :)

[@RoversAdventure]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@willymueller3278]

Wow, that looks like a whole lot of work to me ! My masts are solid grown trees, and in Nova Scotia, you can find those trees everywhere, probabely next to your house !

[@RoversAdventure]

Very nice! But I don't have the time to allow them to dry.

[@willymueller3278]

@@RoversAdventure I understand, you got 7 month, and a tree takes a year to dry.

[@RoversAdventure]

What kind of rig do you have?

[@willymueller3278]

@@RoversAdventure It' s a 46 foot steel ketch, round shaped hull, 20 tons, with a gaff - ketch rig, two foresails, and I have been to Halifax with her.

[@RoversAdventure]

@@willymueller3278 I do love the gaff rig. One of the Wave Rover 650 builders intends on putting a gaff rig on her. Fair winds Willy

[@liquidmandotcom]

WOW, Great video!

[@RoversAdventure]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@littlebeasailingadventures6408]

Nice work my friend !

[@RoversAdventure]

Thanks Dan. I hope that you noticed your name on the Benefactors Bulkhead.

[@littlebeasailingadventures6408]

@@RoversAdventure yes, I did ! Great .... next summer, I hope to see it in person 😎

[@littlebeasailingadventures6408]

What is your sailplan m2 ? Junk rig, if I remember right ???

[@RoversAdventure]

@@littlebeasailingadventures6408 Junk Rig. I'm currently making the last design modifications to the sail before asking the sail maker to build it.

[@littlebeasailingadventures6408]

@@RoversAdventure ah ..... is that sailmaker someone that I might know ?

[@paulmattern3741]

I highly recommend watching the build of sv tapatya

[@RoversAdventure]

Tony and I had a great Zoom call a few days ago.

[@wHaTsThIsThInGdO]

This thing started billowing smoke around 2:14 and by 2:36 the whole world caught fire lol an expert way to lose everything

[@heelgraag]

I wonder if this massive mast won't be too heavy for the waverover. There is now a lot of weight far above the boat. Wasn't a hollow wooden mast better, for example made of trapezoidal slats, then you immediately come closer to the round shape. The mast is lighter, the wood is cheaper, and you have a place for the wiring.

[@RoversAdventure]

I cover all these points next week in Part 2

[@gregoryh4601]

Thanks for the Video on build your Sailboat! Would it be better to save Mast weight for more Supplies? Will you be use Dyheema Rigging since you like saving money?

[@RoversAdventure]

The mast is junk rigged and unstayed. I haven't really thought about the running rigging yet.

[@ximono]

I see many knots in the lumber, might those be possible weak points in the mast? I suppose less so with a laminated mast than if it were a solid spruce tree mast. You're also a woodworker by trade, which I'm not, so I think I should stop worrying and trust that you know what you're doing 😊

[@RoversAdventure]

As long as the knots are tight and you laminate the mast well you won't have any problems

[@ximono]

@@RoversAdventure Good to know! Thanks for answering 🙂

[@davidangela6997]

I am about to start building a John Welsford Sundowner, stretched to 23ft here in France. The study plans call for old growth Oregon pine ( douglas) for the laminated mast. Can you tell me what your construction wood is made from ? I've followed all of your videos, and you have inspired me to "have a go". Thank's Alan.

[@RoversAdventure]

In the video you see me selecting regular construction lumber know as SPF (Spruce, Pine Fir). The mast is mainly spruce with 1/4 pine and 1/8 fir.

[@papounet4842]

All answers to my questions in part 2. Roger, Wilco. Out ! I guess this wooden spar could add some boyancy, should this be needed !

[@RoversAdventure]

Thanks for your patience.

[@sailoutofagarage6212]

Is there a reason you didn't use a belt sander as a last step instead of a hand planer to prep the the surface for gluing?

[@sailoutofagarage6212]

Also, I agree you can never have too many clamps.

[@RoversAdventure]

The plane give far more precision and you need a tight joint with Titebond.

[@mattevans-koch9353]

Nice work Alan. Will you be running any wires for masthead lights? Didn't see if you had a channel in the center of the mast or not. Best wishes to all at the Wave Rover homestead for a good weather this weekend.

[@RoversAdventure]

Great question Matt and I cover that in Part 2

[@rickkinney1249]

you said "you have to crack an egg to make an omelet" , how about "if you want to hold a dance you have to pay the band" i have a way to scarf boards up to 48 in wide (plywood) using a router and it comes out ready for epoxy fit up. it make for a real strong joint and an old boat builder showed me the method thanx and nice video and boat rick

[@RoversAdventure]

Hi Rick, do you want to share the scarfing idea. If so send me an email [e-mail]

[@roncanizares9966]

Another great video! Can you tell use the glue that you have chosen it use?

[@RoversAdventure]

Thanks Ron. I used Titebond 3

[@roncanizares9966]

@@RoversAdventure Thank you. An unrelated question: when you were sailing from the Caribbean to Nova Scotia, once away from the Caribbean islands, what sleep schedule did you employ? Thank you for your response/input.

[@RoversAdventure]

@@roncanizares9966 Covid was in full swing and both the seas and the sky were virtually empty. I would get a fair bit of rest during the day and keep a 20 min watch during the night. As I got closer to New York and Halifax the shipping increased and I kept a more rigorous watch schedule. A 20-30 minute 360 during the day and 15-20 minute 360* during the night.

[@davefoc]

@@RoversAdventure I asked Leo, the host of the Sampson Boat Channel why he didn't use Titebond III. It seemed to me easier to use and I have had very good luck with it. His answer was that the manufacturer of Titebond does not recommend it use for below water applications. I was skeptical but from the titebond site: "...Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue is not for continuous submersion or for use below the waterline...." He used Gorilla Glue instead: however that has a similar restriction. I notice that on some of his later work on material that was well above the water line he was using titebond III.

[@RoversAdventure]

@@davefoc I'd fully agree with that. I would only use epoxy below the waterline.

[@michaelspooren9213]

Why didn't you use epoxy for gluing, but wood glue?

[@RoversAdventure]

Explained in Part 2

[@edwardfinn4141]

Did you consider just cutting the right tree/ log? That’s the way they did it in the schooner days. I’m sure the right log would work…

[@RoversAdventure]

I don't have access to a woodlot let alone transport facilities to get the log home. I think that for some this would be a viable option.

[@oldshad65]

Did you consider using a flexible epoxy like G Flex for the mast glue up?

[@curtiscagle6261]

Alan, why not build the mast out of carbon fiber ? Wouldn't it be lighter than using wood ?

[@RoversAdventure]

Yes it would be lighter and stronger but well out of reach financially. I have designed this project to be attainable and empowering for the average backyard builder of modest means.

[@gregoryh4601]

Curtis I thought of Carbon Fiber to but I will something my late Father would say if I had his Money I would 🔥 Mine.

[@dennis6325]

Why wood glue and not gap-filling epoxy?

[@hughhardwick816]

What was the glue you used on the mast it did not look like epoxy?

[@Garryck-1]

It's Titebond 3.

[@tonysutton6559]

A nice, satisfying job to do and when you are sitting at the tiller in the middle of the ocean you can look at the mast and think "I made that". I surprised that you didn't wear a mask while you were routing the scarfs, the router is just about the worst tool of the lot for creating dust.

[@RoversAdventure]

Perhaps you have a point, but spruce isn't toxic as far as I know

[@Al-cynic]

You obviously know your stuff, but would a off the shelf aluminium spar/mast not be more durable, as well as make up for lost time. I know many enjoy the process, I just want to see this thing on the water (yes i'm impatient), and you on your journey.

[@RoversAdventure]

As inexpensive as an aluminum flag pole is, they are still hard to source here and about 20 times the cost

[@tomwaite4594]

@@RoversAdventure Aluminum is also not near as flexible/ forgiving at sea....

[@HankMeyer]

Do you know anybody who's using the flag pole method? I'd like to see a video of that process.

[@tugrulcagr7640]

Do you know Roger Taylor (Mingming)

[@PyeGuySailing]

Very cool. Question; why didn't you just buy a telephone pole and trim it? Is this lighter? Stronger?

[@RoversAdventure]

They are more expensive and pressure treated, two things that should be avoided.

[@PyeGuySailing]

@@RoversAdventure ah, I see cool. My old boat neighbour built a mast for his 40ft ferro cement sloop out of one. It's 10 years old but probably only has a few years left by the way it looks...probably because it was pressure treated? (And poorly maintained). Honestly didn't know pressure treating wood was bad for marine environment, good thing to know :)

[@dannyoberthier3053]

Robertson screws rule.

[@RoversAdventure]

It's bizarre that they aren't more popular.

[@as17ns22]

You're not concerned about rot?

[@LNM0000]

Just about anyone will be able to master... I saw what you did there... 😆

[@kimandreebrustad194]

Why don’t you make your router jig twice as long and make 2 at once, it would be a perfect joint in much less time..