Wooden masts are becoming a thing of the past. This is not worth arguing with. There is a solid reason for this. They are always heavier than their light-alloy cousins and, in addition, they require experienced boatbuilders to put them together properly. Then there’s the fact that the material from which they are built is increasingly difficult to get in good quality.
BUT!
A simple box mast for a small offshore yacht (26-30′) can be built under a tent for a fraction of the price of new rigging without a lot of knowledge and unusual tools. There’s even a simpler way to make a wooden mast and it’s just the right tree! To quote American sailor, boat builder and designer George Buehler, “there are many trees made to become masts (…) if I choose a tree with dimensions close to a finished mast, after removing branches and bark 45min with an electric planer in hand will give me a spar ready for rigging!”.
Wooden masts are also repairable. Just like this bezan mast in the photos. In the case of masts, it is important to maintain the appropriate length of the bevel (1-15 – 1-20) This considerable length is not due to the necessary area of gluing but to the effect of the “work” of such a joint. The longer it is, the less stiffness at the point of repair and less chance of breaking in the future.
