Mast vs. Spar — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Urooj Arif — Updated on April 3, 2024
A mast is a tall vertical structure on a ship for holding sails or antennae, while a spar is any strong pole used in the rigging of ships.
Difference Between Mast and Spar
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Masts are tall, vertical structures on ships or boats, designed primarily to hold sails, rigging, and sometimes navigation lights or antennae. Whereas spars refer to any strong pole used in the rigging of ships, including masts but also booms, gaffs, and yards, serving various functions in the manipulation and support of sails.
Historically, masts were made from single tall trees to achieve the necessary height and strength, crucial for sailing ships. On the other hand, spars could be made from smaller pieces of wood joined together or from lighter materials, as their size and strength requirements vary depending on their specific function.
In modern times, masts are often made of aluminum or carbon fiber to reduce weight and increase strength, enhancing a ship's performance and durability. Spars, benefiting from similar technological advances, are also made from lighter, stronger materials but are tailored to their varied roles, from supporting sails to adjusting their angle or position.
Masts are integral to a ship's design and are usually one of the first structures to be installed during construction, indicating their central role. Spars, while also essential, are added based on the sail plan and the specific needs of the vessel, reflecting their supportive and versatile nature.
While the mast's primary role is to support sails for propulsion and sometimes to carry navigation equipment, spars have a broader range of functions. Spars like booms and gaffs directly manipulate the sails, allowing for better control of the ship's movement, whereas masts primarily provide the vertical support necessary for these operations.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A tall vertical structure on a ship for holding sails or antennae.
Any strong pole used in the rigging of ships, including masts.
Primary Function
To support sails and rigging for propulsion and navigation.
To support and manipulate sails in various capacities.
Material
Traditionally wood, now also aluminum or carbon fiber.
Wood, aluminum, carbon fiber, depending on specific use.
Installation
Central, integral structure usually installed early in ship construction.
Added based on sail plan and vessel's needs, varied installation times.
Varieties
Few, mainly differentiated by location (mainmast, mizzenmast, etc.).
Numerous, including booms, gaffs, yards, based on function.
Compare with Definitions
Mast
A pole on a ship supporting antennae and navigation lights.
The mast bore the ship's radar and navigation lights.
Spar
Any strong pole used in the rigging of ships.
The spar was positioned to adjust the sail's angle.
Mast
Symbolically, a mast can represent a ship's presence or readiness.
Flying the flag at half-mast signaled mourning.
Spar
Varied in size and function depending on the sailing vessel.
The ship's design included several spars for different sails.
Mast
A tall vertical structure on a ship for holding sails.
The ship's mast stood tall against the sky, rigged with sails.
Spar
Made from materials like wood or carbon fiber.
The lightweight carbon fiber spar made sail adjustments easier.
Mast
The central support structure in a sailboat's design.
The sailboat's mast was crafted from high-strength carbon fiber.
Spar
Includes booms, gaffs, and yards for sail manipulation.
The boom, a type of spar, extended from the mast's base.
Mast
A critical component in a ship's silhouette and functionality.
The tall mast made the ship visible from a great distance.
Spar
Essential for the versatile manipulation of sails.
Adjusting the spar helped catch the wind more effectively.
Mast
A tall upright post, spar, or other structure on a ship or boat, in sailing vessels generally carrying a sail or sails.
Spar
A thick, strong pole such as is used for a mast or yard on a ship.
Mast
The fruit of beech, oak, chestnut, and other forest trees, especially as food for pigs.
Spar
A period or bout of sparring.
Mast
(with reference to tea) brew or infuse
Let the tea mast for a couple of minutes
Spar
A close friend
Buster was his spar and he didn't want to let him down
Mast
A vertical structure consisting of a spar or several spars affixed end-to-end, rising from the keel or deck of a sailing vessel to support the sails.
Spar
A crystalline, easily cleavable, translucent or transparent mineral.
Mast
A single spar serving as a part of such a structure
The fore topgallant mast.
Spar
Make the motions of boxing without landing heavy blows, as a form of training
One contestant broke his nose while sparring
Mast
A vertical pole.
Spar
(of a gamecock) fight with the feet or spurs.
Mast
A tall vertical antenna, as for a radio.
Spar
(Nautical) A wooden or metal pole, such as a mast, boom, yard, or bowsprit, used to support sails and rigging.
Mast
A captain's mast.
Spar
A usually metal pole used as part of a crane or derrick.
Mast
The nuts of forest trees accumulated on the ground, especially considered as a food source for wildlife or for domestic swine.
Spar
A main structural member in an airplane wing or a tail assembly that runs from tip to tip or from root to tip.
Mast
A tall, slim post or tower, usually tapering upward, used to support, for example, sails or observation platforms on a ship, the main rotor of a helicopter, flags, floodlights, meteorological instruments, or communications equipment, such as an aerial, usually supported by guy-wires (except in the case of a helicopter).
Spar
A motion of attack or defense in boxing.
Mast
(naval) A non-judicial punishment ("NJP"); a disciplinary hearing under which a commanding officer studies and disposes of cases involving those under his command.
Spar
A sparring match.
Mast
The fruit of forest-trees (beech, oak, chestnut, pecan, etc.), especially if having fallen from the tree, used as fodder for pigs and other animals.
Spar
A nonmetallic, readily cleavable, translucent or transparent light-colored mineral with a shiny luster, such as feldspar.
Mast
The anabolic steroid Drostanolone propionate, also known as Masteron
Spar
A member of the women's reserve of the US Coast Guard, disbanded as a separate unit in 1946.
Mast
A type of heavy cue, with the broad end of which one strikes the ball.
Spar
To supply with spars.
Mast
To supply and fit a mast to (a ship).
Spar
(Obsolete) To fasten with a bolt.
Mast
(of swine and other animals) To feed on forest seed or fruit.
Spar
To fight with an opponent in a short bout or practice session, as in boxing or the martial arts.
Mast
To produce a very large quantity of fruit or seed in certain years but not others.
Spar
To make boxing or fighting motions without hitting one's opponent.
Mast
The fruit of the oak and beech, or other forest trees; nuts; acorns.
Oak mast, and beech, . . . they eat.
Swine under an oak filling themselves with the mast.
Spar
To bandy words about in argument; dispute.
Mast
A pole, or long, strong, round piece of timber, or spar, set upright in a boat or vessel, to sustain the sails, yards, rigging, etc. A mast may also consist of several pieces of timber united by iron bands, or of a hollow pillar of iron or steel.
The tallest pineHewn on Norwegian hills, to be the mastOf some great ammiral.
Spar
To fight by striking with the feet and spurs. Used of gamecocks.
Mast
The vertical post of a derrick or crane.
Spar
A rafter of a roof.
Mast
A spar or strut to which tie wires or guys are attached for stiffening purposes.
Spar
A thick pole or piece of wood.
Mast
To furnish with a mast or masts; to put the masts of in position; as, to mast a ship.
Spar
(obsolete) A bar of wood used to fasten a door.
Mast
A vertical spar for supporting sails
Spar
(nautical) Any linear object used as a mast, sprit, yard, boom, pole or gaff.
Mast
Nuts of forest trees (as beechnuts and acorns) accumulated on the ground; used especially as food for swine
Spar
(aeronautics) A beam-like structural member that supports ribs in an aircraft wing or other airfoil.
Mast
Nuts of forest trees used as feed for swine
Spar
A sparring session; a preliminary fight, as in boxing or cock-fighting.
Mast
Any sturdy upright pole
Spar
(MLE) A friend, a mate, a pal.
Spar
(mineralogy) Any of various microcrystalline minerals, of light, translucent, or transparent appearance, which are easily cleft.
Spar
(mineralogy) Any crystal with readily discernible faces.
Spar
To bolt, bar.
Spar
(transitive) To supply or equip (a vessel) with spars.
Spar
To fight, especially as practice for martial arts or hand-to-hand combat.
Spar
To strike with the feet or spurs, as cocks do.
Spar
To contest in words; to wrangle.
Spar
An old name for a nonmetallic mineral, usually cleavable and somewhat lustrous; as, calc spar, or calcite, fluor spar, etc. It was especially used in the case of the gangue minerals of a metalliferous vein.
Spar
A general term any round piece of timber used as a mast, yard, boom, or gaff.
Spar
Formerly, a piece of timber, in a general sense; - still applied locally to rafters.
Spar
The bar of a gate or door.
Spar
A contest at sparring or boxing.
Spar
A movement of offense or defense in boxing.
Spar
To bolt; to bar.
Spar
To To supply or equip with spars, as a vessel.
Spar
To strike with the feet or spurs, as cocks do.
Spar
To use the fists and arms scientifically in attack or defense; to contend or combat with the fists, as for exercise or amusement; to box.
Made believe to spar at Paul with great science.
Spar
To contest in words; to wrangle.
Spar
Any of various nonmetallic minerals (calcite or feldspar) that are light in color and transparent or translucent and cleavable
Spar
A stout rounded pole of wood or metal used to support rigging
Spar
Making the motions of attack and defense with the fists and arms; a part of training for a boxer
Spar
Furnish with spars
Spar
Fight with spurs;
The gamecocks were sparring
Spar
Box lightly
Spar
Fight verbally;
They were sparring all night
Common Curiosities
What materials are used to make masts and spars?
Both masts and spars were traditionally made from wood but are now often made from aluminum or carbon fiber for increased strength and reduced weight.
How are masts and spars installed on a ship?
Masts are integral to a ship's design and usually installed early in construction, while spars are added based on the specific sail plan and needs of the vessel.
Are spars only used on sailing ships?
Primarily, yes, spars are used on sailing ships for handling and supporting sails, but the term can also refer to similar structures in other contexts.
What distinguishes a mast from a spar?
A mast is a specific type of spar designed to stand vertically on a ship to support sails, while spars can be any strong pole used in the rigging of ships, including but not limited to masts.
Can a mast be considered a spar?
Yes, a mast is a type of spar, specifically tailored to support sails and rigging vertically.
Can a ship have more than one mast?
Yes, many ships, especially larger sailing vessels, have multiple masts named according to their position (e.g., mainmast, mizzenmast, foremast) to support various sail configurations.
Why are the materials for masts and spars chosen carefully?
The materials for masts and spars are chosen based on strength, weight, and flexibility requirements. Lighter, stronger materials improve a ship's performance by allowing for taller masts and longer spars without significantly increasing the weight.
What role does wind play in the design of masts and spars?
Wind plays a critical role in the design of masts and spars; they must be strong enough to withstand high wind pressures while being flexible enough to transfer the wind's energy into propelling the ship forward.
Do masts and spars serve the same purpose?
Masts serve a primary role in supporting sails vertically for propulsion, while spars have broader functions, including manipulating sails for better control.
How does technology affect the construction of masts and spars?
Advancements in materials like aluminum and carbon fiber have made masts and spars lighter and stronger, enhancing the performance and durability of sailing vessels.
How is the maintenance of masts and spars different?
Maintenance of masts involves checking for structural integrity, particularly in the areas of fittings and attachments, while spar maintenance often focuses on wear and tear from moving parts like ropes and pulleys.
How do advancements in technology impact the design of modern masts and spars?
Technological advancements have led to the development of more aerodynamic shapes and the use of materials that are not only stronger and lighter but also resistant to corrosion and fatigue, enhancing the efficiency and lifespan of masts and spars.
What are some common types of spars besides masts?
Common types of spars include booms, gaffs, and yards, each serving different roles in sail manipulation and support.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
