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Laying up fibreglass in the rig, while hanging from the mast...

October 25, 2025 · 25 min · 255K views · Ensenada

Sailor applies fiberglass wrap to mast in marina

What this video covers

Leo Goolden applies two fiberglass wraps to the wooden mast of Tally Ho in Ensenada, Mexico, to protect against gaff-saddle chafe at reefed positions discovered after a heavy-wind overnight passage with Marat.9:54 He laminates three layers of 8 oz cloth using West Systems epoxy with a clear hardener, laying them up on a floating workbench upside-down on plastic sheeting, then hoists the bench aloft and applies the wet layup to the mast while hanging in a harness.11:42 Peel ply over the finished surface produces a consistent finish without sanding.20:09 He chose fiberglass over brass strips to avoid drilling additional holes in the mast center and to reduce the risk of water ingress.10:56 Higher on the mast, previously installed brass rubbing strips at the gaff saddle positions continue to handle the heavier chafe loads.11:35 Separately, a professional varnisher named Ricardo sands and re-coats the main companionway hatch and cockpit, while Leo plans to repaint the dinghy interior with paint rather than varnish for lower UV maintenance.8:54 Chafe protection at reefed gaff positions is a structural priority on a gaff-rigged vessel making extended downwind passages.

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