Modern wooden spar and rigging

[SunTreader]

I'm getting to the point in restoring my Islander 32 that I need to decide on spars. The original rig was box section douglas fir and from that the boom is restored and ready to go. I had planned on building a new mast but all the metal work for tangs, sheaves, brackets, etc. are looking like a lot of expense and a lot of work.

What I'd love to build is a thoroughly modern box section build up spar, deck stepped, single spreader, and use Dux standing rigging. This isn't a a race boat, just a run of the mill cruiser. All the materials out there on wood spar outfitting are pretty dated and incomplete. The use of Dux should eliminate some of the metal work. What about thumb cleats for lower shrouds or some sort of lashing for the uppers and stay attachments.

Any ideas about lighter, simplier, wood spar building and rigging? I've got the construction figured out, but the rigging attachment is where I feel like I'm rewriting the books.

The alternative to building a spar is finding a used alloy rig, probably cheaper, but much less interest and character

Thanks for any comments,

David

[Mike Meer]

Have a look at the Westsail Brian Duff and I did last year. He designed a sprit that used the lashing systems you are referring to. We spliced dux directly to the sprit and served over the splices for a traditional look and better abrasion resistance. A few years ago, I helped restore Sally, a 10 meter out of San Diego. It used separate 7x19 straps wrapped in leather to hold the rigging up. Chalks were placed (staggered) on the spar to hold the straps. The sail track was off set from the back of the mast so an opening could be provided for the straps to clear under the track.