CLASSIC BOAT OCTOBER 2016 93SPAR PLANE
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS
ROBIN GATES
Nothing generates wood shavings so
abundantly as making spars. In the
process of rounding a mast from its
flat-faced column to a smoothly
tapering stick the maker walks a
country mile with his plane, pushing it
steadily from step to truck while
crunching a sea of curly shavings
underfoot.
Boom, pole, tiller, and the looms of
oars – there’s a lot of squared-up
timber to be wasted in fitting out
even a day boat. Much of the grunt
work can be done with a jack plane
but at the point when this flat-soled
tool achieves little more than a new
set of facets it’s time to deploy the
spar plane.
Its special feature is a hollow sole
with the blade ground to match, so
that it leaves a convex surface in its
wake. Spar planes are made
according to need with a radius of
curvature to suit the intended spar,
typically by hollowing out a standard
wooden smoother.
This example has a three inch
radius and is of the European
Bismarck pattern, with shapely ‘cow
horn’ front handle dovetailed to the
toe. Pale parallel lines of medullary
ray visible in the heel show the stock
was made using quarter-sawn timber
from a beech tree of considerable
age. The ray running perpendicular to
the sole maximises durability and
dimensional stability. Corners are
rounded for comfort but the maker’s
scribe lines remain clearly visible. And
although the hammer marks of a
lifetime’s work show through its
golden patina nothing speaks of
carelessness.
Wooden planes are like that – with
their warmth and softness they
openly solicit caring, and who can
resist. Whereas a big old iron plane atthe bench puts me in mind of a
fisherman’s anchor on the foredeck,
in that I can’t wait to put the unwieldy
thing down, a little old woodie like
this nestles in the hands like a
sleeping rabbit.
Anyone making spars for profit will
forgo the sentimental indulgence, don
safety specs and ear plugs and let a
power planer do the donkey work.
The measured pace of the old spar
maker has morphed into something
like a mad dash with a strimmer to
cut the grass before it rains. But for
finishing touches before sanding, the
spar plane is still the favourite.NEXT MONTH: The tool boxClockwise from
above: rounding
a solid spar;
blade ground to
match the hollow
sole; medullary
ray and hammer
marks in the heelTraditional Tool