Before the Mast

In times long past, being "before the mast" meant you were just a seaman. Non-officer's quarters were in the forward part of the ship or "before the mast" Todays cruising boats put the cherished "V-berths" forward now so most sailors are before the mast.

Spark does not have any berths, before or after the mast, she does however have a nice wooden mast that is in need of some TLC. Today I brought it in from the cold through a window in the basement and it now hangs comfortably from the floor joists away from the cold and wet winter weather.

Unfortunately, as I have discovered through the help of the Woodenboat.com forums, I need to do some repairs. Spark's mast is cracking at the top. This is not the wood giving way, but rather the glue that holds it together. Almost 55 years of use and storage has turned the old glue into crystals that just do not hold the wood together anymore. While I did not want to do any serious repairs to Spark this year, taking care of the Mast is something that needs doing lest it fail at the worst possible time.