Spars

Most of the spars are (nearly) done. I haven't built the mizzen mast, the boom needs hardware, the mast needs hardware and the yard needs a bit of paint and a bit of hardware.

I am (mostly) happy with the spars as they are:

• The mast weighs 26 pounds (11.8kg), has eight coats of varnish and will look good from ten feet away.
• The boom weighs nine pounds (4kg) and is very stiff.
• The yard weighs six pounds (2,7kg), has a slight bow to it and a few white flecks where I sanded too far into the F/G sleeve (hence the "mostly happy" reference above) but should work well. I have not checked it for stiffness.
• The boomkin has been done for a long time and is waiting for me to finish the boat and go sailing. Same for the mizzen boom.

Now it is time for some decisions:

• Hounds with single block, fairlead (no block) or padeye with block on the mast for the halyard?
• Dixon Kemp style halyard arrangement or parrel beads at the yard?
• Padeye, rope loop (soft shackle), or single block on the yard for the halyard attachment?
• Straight (5:1) downhaul or the GIS bleater/vang arrangement?
• Parrel beads or OZ style line/loop attachment for the boom?

Some of these choices are mutually exclusive and there is nothing magical about any of them.