Making Mast Hoops

Mast hoops are commonly used on gaff-rigged sailing vessels to allow the sail to slide up and down the mast. Owners of these craft know that the hoops are worth their extra inspection and care as replacements are hard-to-find and expensive to buy when you do. In this episode, host Rich Hilsinger is joined by boatbuilder Greg Rossel who will share with viewers the approach he takes when making mast hoops of any size. We’ll look at three different versions – a solid wood hoop joined with mating scarf joints and copper rivets; a laminated hoop with two or more wraps fastened with rivets or glue; and a hoop that is bolted.

Greg will begin by discussing the best woods for such an endeavor. The difficulty in making mast hoops is that wood, even when it is well steamed, hates to make the tight turn required and will rebel by splitting out on the outside of the curve and become distorted. The solution? By building a simple bending jig using standard off-the-shelf stuff you can achieve excellent results and Greg will demonstrate two jigs that the home builder can construct and how they work. We’ll then look into a simple steaming unit that is both safe and efficient to use indoors. Proper steaming is the key to success. Next, Greg will explain an easy method for determining the length of wood to be bent. After milling enough stock for the number of hoops needed we’ll be ready to go. This is a fast-acting operation so we’ll gather all the necessary tools, clamps, and fasteners before we start making steam. After practicing a dry run, the boys will fire up the steam box and start making hoops. 

Though diminutive in size, mast hoops might seem intimidating to fashion. We think this episode will go a long way in removing that stress and show the viewer just how straight forward and enjoyable the procedure can be.