Sap yield question

[bagpiper]

I'm a 1st year hobbiest and am wondering what I should expect for sap yield per tap. I'm in southern Maine near the NH border and am tapping red maples only in a mixed white pine, hemlock and maple forest. I had the lot cut about 7 years ago, and the reds I am tapping are mostly around 12-16" diameter - 1 tap per tree. So far, I have averaged about 5 gpt, but I have read that the average should be closer to 7 to 10 gpt. I tapped the 1st week of March. The trees are still dripping slowly and I'm in a cold spot, so they haven't come close to budding out yet. I'll boil again tomorrow, about 40 - 50 gals. collected this week.

I have a gentle slope in one area, so I could tie about 20 trees together on gravity with maybe a small portable vacuum pump like I've been reading about here. Do you think that that would increase the yield?

[BlueberryHill]

Yes, vac will increase your yield. So would favorable weather. I'm close enough to get similar weather to yours and this year has not been the greatest. The only thing I have going for me it that I tapped way more trees then my evap can handle.

[bagpiper]

Thanks for the reply. I just emptied my buckets in preparation for a boil tomorrow and got another 25 gallons. It's coming out cold and clear. I still have almost a foot of snow under the trees in many places. Any chance that the trees will continue to produce as the temps warm this coming week and the snow melts away?

[Mitchman]

Hey Bagpiper, My brother and I put a cooler vacuum system together, idea from the Trader, and instead of 21 tree's on it next year it will be 65 to 85. Saves on the leg work, it's there when you want it. We weren't getting much sap at first so i borrowed the tool from a friend to check my fittings, had 8 leaks, not bad doing it by hand. Now the barrel always has sap in it when it's running. 4 1/2 gallons of syrup and counting, our best year.

[bagpiper]

Hi Mitchman - When you have time could you give me some details and maybe a photo or two of your setup. We boiled today and made a gallon of dark syrup on 45 gals. of sap - reds as that's all I have for maples. Very good flavor though. Great day with lots of friends visiting and red hot dogs boiled in sap of course. Trees are still leaking slowly here. Clear and cold sap.

[bees1st]

I tap a lot of reds . They run great on vacuum , a bit finicky with gravity . makes great syrup .

[Aaron Roy]

Hey Bagpiper, My brother and I put a cooler vacuum system together, idea from the Trader, and instead of 21 tree's on it next year it will be 65 to 85. Saves on the leg work, it's there when you want it. We weren't getting much sap at first so i borrowed the tool from a friend to check my fittings, had 8 leaks, not bad doing it by hand. Now the barrel always has sap in it when it's running. 4 1/2 gallons of syrup and counting, our best year.

I would also like to see what you have done. All reds on flat ground, most are already on lines. I'm going to set up something next year

[Mini_Maple_Men]

Bagpiper, look into 3/16 line! You can put 20 taps on it and with a 2% grade and around a 6 foot drop into the holding tank my buddy is pulling 25 lbs of vaccume on the line and no power required. I am gonna run 3 strings of 20 taps each in our new sugar bush next year. Happy boiling!