Mast woodwork complete

I was very happy to receive these photos today from Nick Gates, the excellent shipwright repairing the rot on Molly’s mast foot. They tell the story of how the scarph is carried out, resulting in a very elegant job, which even improves on the original.

Sitka spruce block being planed flat
New piece ready for fitting, showing channel for cables
Clamps applied!
Trimming the scarph
Pleasing shape!
Fairing the shoulders
Nick put on a technical bit of tape at the start of the job, to retain the exact length of the mast
Precisely four feet from the foot
The new foot is made of teak, salvaged from the side of some steps on a Baltic Trader which was broken up 20 years ago
Foot is screwed on and the holes filled with epoxy and microlite (filler) mix
Finishing the surface prior to varnishing
I’ve paid for a spruce block to be turned into shavings!! 😉

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