I'm getting ready to order the lumber for spar construction, but that clear wood is expensive and I want to make sure I get it right. The mast is easy enough to understand--1@ 16' 1x12 or 2@ 12' 1x12s scarfed together. I also figured out the bowsprit--laminate two 2x3s together to get a 2 1/2 x 3 piece. The yard (gaff) and boom have me confused though, as follows:
1)The finished dimension of the gaff before tapering is supposed to be 1" x 3", yet the materials list calls for 2x3 lumber, which has a maximum actual dimension of only 2 1/2". I don't see anything in the manual about laminating the wood, and besides, only 24 linear feet is called for, which would give me enough for one boom length and one gaff length. A little less than two feet would be left over--but at least six feet would be needed to fill out the part that has to be between 2 1/2 and 3 inches. And again, nothing is mentioned in the manual about laminating two pieces.
1a) It looks to me like I need a 12 foot 1 x 2, which I would glue to a 12' 2 x 3. This would give me a 3 1/4" x 1 1/2" blank that I would then mill to the required 1" by 3" piece and cut to 10' 1/4" for the gaff. (Actually plan to cut it to 11' to reach the gallows, as Pete (Tattoo) pointed out.)
2) I'm having a similar problem understanding the boom. The finished dimension is supposed to be 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 before tapering the end, but the materials list calls for 2 x 3 lumber, which is only 1 1/2 inches on one side.
2a) So,I will also need a 12 foot 1 x 3, which I would then glue to a 12' 2 x 3. This would give me a 2 1/4" x 2 1/2" blank to then mill down to 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 and cut to 11' 10 3/4" for the boom.
Has this been the experience of those of you who have fabricated the spars, or am I missing something?