Anonymous wrote:

Hi Everyone

I’m about to build to top section of my hybrid mast, plus some other jobs that require wood, and wondered if I have to source Douglas fir (or equivalent), which is not cheap or easy to get in Ireland, or, just drive round to my builder’s merchant and get construction grade lumber? Seeing as it will be laminated together and fibreglassed etc, am I just making the project more costly in time and expense? I also plan to make a tabernacle, and know this could be done with three thick plans of D fir, how weaker would it be made from laminated construction timer that’s glassed?

Hi Andrew

You can happily use spruce instead of doug fir as long as it's relatively knot free. The moisture content also wants to be under 18%. A spruce mast will be lighter than the equivalent doug fir mast, but untreated, doug fir is more durable.

I built my masts from spruce clad in a single layer of biaxial glass cloth in epoxy, finished with 2 part polyurethane paint. I'm very happy with them.