wooden mast repair

[Linda]

We need to either repair or replace the wooden main mast for our Dickerson 35 – does anyone know of a mast without a boat anywhere?

[Mike Aitken]

Linda,
Look in the parts for sale area on this forum. John Carey was parting out a boat – he’s on the eastern shore – I would e-mail him to see if he still has the masts.
Mike

[Linda]

Thanks so much, Mike, I’ll check there.

[Linda]

Mike – where is the “parts for sale” area on this forum ?

[Linda]

me again – I found John’s post, but his mast is aluminum, ours is wood…the search continues

[Fleet Captain]

Hi Linda,

Please pardon me if I should know this–or I do know this and I forgot. But as a member of the DOA membership commitee and “keeper of all data-Dickerson”, I would love to know “of which boat we are searching for a mast”. You might note from my many posts, I try to keep track of boats/size/registry/lineage/etc. etc. Private email is fine if you would rather–but the DOA is commited to preserving the heritage of these great yachts. Thanks.

Barry

Now on to finding you a mast.

[Mike Aitken]

Hi linda…
I thought you mentioned wood..The only reason I suggested aluminum is that most wood masts, unless they are stored inside a mast shed, will age less gracefully than the boat they are associated with. Finding a wood mast for a 35 may be a challenge – A friend of mine had one made for his 30 foot cutter out of Doug-fir. Ouch!!

I do know that Jeff Thompson up in Maine has a 35 “woodie” with aluminum masts that he painted to”look like wood” (or perhaps less like aluminum) and has wood booms finished bright – the two compliment each other and make for a very good looking boat. Just a thought …
mike

[Linda]

Thanks for the suggestion – I wouldn’t mind that – painted appropriately – but my husband is a stickler for wood. We’ve spoken with two boat/mast restorers about fixing it – looks like we’ll be going that way – pretty pricey.

By the way, ours is not a new Dickerson discovery – I’m sorry, I forgot my log in info and signed in as a newby! We’re Tapestry – the Dickerson 35, wood ketch – that’s needed lots of repair. Can you believe my husband is intent on splining the hull in all the places where the glued planks have shrunk – which is a lot! It worked so well on our last wood boat, but those planks were a lot wider. These are so narrow – well, we might get her in next year! It will be quite a story to share. The restoration is one thing, but getting her out of the barn where we have her stored will be quite another. The neighboring property owner decided to erect a chain link fence at his property boundary – about fifteen feet from the door that all thirty five feet of her will have to be trucked out! We are now restoring a ship in a bottle. Will let you know how it all works out

[Author]

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