Sampson Boat Covideo

Building the Mast (rebuilding Tally Ho ep146)

February 11, 2023 · 25 min · 731K views · Port Townsend

What this video covers

The restoration of the wooden sailboat Tally Ho includes the fabrication of a new, hollow, glued-up mast at the Port Townsend Maritime Centre.0:24 The team, led by Robert Darcy, utilizes a barrel-stave construction method, which involves joining eight tapered staves to form an octagon before shaping the spar into a round profile.1:03 This approach allows for optimal grain orientation and weight reduction compared to a solid, grown mast.8:43 The staves are joined using long, staggered scarf joints and bonded with West Systems epoxy.14:34 Internal features include solid blocking at the deck and gooseneck areas for compression strength, conduit for electrical wiring, and a radar reflector mounted near the top.21:28 Separately, the boat’s domestic water system is installed using two Marco pumps in parallel to provide redundancy and flow control.15:35 The project team plans to construct the boom and gaff next to allow sailmakers to assess spar flexibility before finalizing sail designs.24:32

Watch on YouTube

More from Sampson Boat Co

Piracy and Peril - stories from the boatyards of West CorkAug 2026Tally Ho completes her Atlantic Crossing at the Fastnet Rock!Aug 2026Change of plan - sailing into Ireland TODAY!Jul 2026Fog, Rum, and Fresh Tuna - Halfway across the Atlantic!Jul 2026

From Sampson Boat Co — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.

The Sailing Directory Newsletter

One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.

Report an issue