Winter Project - Spars

While my intention was to do the construction "in order," a cold snowy winter, combined with my miscalculation concerning what it would take to heat my garage to gluing temperatures, conspired to push me in another direction.

No good reason not to do indoors what can be done indoors when it it too cold to work outdoors, so I retreated to my  basement workshop and built the spars.

Here, the gaff awaits varnish coat number three.  I am planning on seven coats (International Schooner) over three of sealer. 

The leather has been glued and nailed.  

All spars are Sitka Spruce.  The gaff jaws are laminated (alternate grain) White Oak.

The mast and boom awaiting another coat.  

Both are Sitka Spruce.  The mast was scarphed, glued up, and rounded in its present location, as the only way to move it from there is through a basement window off to the left beyond the shot.  

The mast awaiting more varnish coats, plus white paint on the base.  

Although the plan seems to call for a square base to be laminated across grain (unless I am misreading the construction drawing,) I opted for the integral base.  

I plan to use the tabernacle design provided in the plan, although the cost of 655 silicon bronze, my preferred option, may well drive me to 316 stainless for that.