Hi, I just picked up an Oday 222 that has been sitting for several years. When I got it home I found that the mast had a gouge and a bend to it. Looking for suggestions on where to go from here. New mast or repair. I'll try and attach a couple of pictures. I'm 20 minutes North of Boston. Hoping to find someplace local for the repair but no luck yet (just started looking last night). Any help is appreciated!
Damaged Spar, Oday 222
- Thread starter noolacam
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Is that gouge at the bend point? You can probably hammer the sail slot flat by placing a piece of hardwood along the bend, and then hammering the wood.
Some folks have been ok bending the mast back a little bit. Others just continue to sail as is.
I'm curious to see what others say.
On the other hand, that looks like a Dwyer mast, and you could still get an extrusion from Dwyer, and move all your hardware over. It won't exactly be cheap, what with regular truck freight costs to get the spar to you, but...
Brian
Some folks have been ok bending the mast back a little bit. Others just continue to sail as is.
I'm curious to see what others say.
On the other hand, that looks like a Dwyer mast, and you could still get an extrusion from Dwyer, and move all your hardware over. It won't exactly be cheap, what with regular truck freight costs to get the spar to you, but...
Brian
Bending it back into shape may work but I would be worried about that point being a weak spot without the addition of some type of structural support to the area.
I've seen a successful repair done on a similar mast that was snapped in half and the same technique may work for your mast. In that case the break was pretty clean, it was squared off and an 18" long (or so) sheet of aluminum plate was bend around the mast but left open just at the sail track. It was welded in place, ground smooth and painted - it was a nice looking repair.
Welding Aluminum is quite a bit different from welding iron so you need to find a shop that has Aluminum experience or they'll likely just burn right through the mast.
EDIT: In looking at your pics the bend is below the spreaders - that means the shrouds will be supporting the mast above the bend, the mast below the spreaders just needs to provide upward (compression) support. I think bending it back would be fine. You could drill a hole iwhere the ding is and use a dent remover to try and pull it out while bending the mast straight. Straightening the sail track as much as possible is important to your sanity.
I've seen a successful repair done on a similar mast that was snapped in half and the same technique may work for your mast. In that case the break was pretty clean, it was squared off and an 18" long (or so) sheet of aluminum plate was bend around the mast but left open just at the sail track. It was welded in place, ground smooth and painted - it was a nice looking repair.
Welding Aluminum is quite a bit different from welding iron so you need to find a shop that has Aluminum experience or they'll likely just burn right through the mast.
EDIT: In looking at your pics the bend is below the spreaders - that means the shrouds will be supporting the mast above the bend, the mast below the spreaders just needs to provide upward (compression) support. I think bending it back would be fine. You could drill a hole iwhere the ding is and use a dent remover to try and pull it out while bending the mast straight. Straightening the sail track as much as possible is important to your sanity.
I have a shop that can weld aluminum in mind. I was just wondering if there was a kit or maybe some documentation on a repair such as a sleeve maybe. Thanks very much for your input!
I had to straighten a similar bend in the mast of my Mariner when I bought it. So far it has held up o.k..
That's what I've decided to do... straighten it and hope for the best. Thanks for the input!
Go find a fab shop in the area that does aluminum. I wouldn't have any trouble fixing that. You will need to refinish the mast when you are done though, as you would loose the paint in the repair area.
If you are going to try and straighten it yourself let me know, I'll try and give you some DIY ideas.
If you are going to try and straighten it yourself let me know, I'll try and give you some DIY ideas.
Thanks, I am going to attempt this myself. I was thinking of maybe sliding it under my truck and lifting to straighten it a little at a time... kind of try it as I go... I would appreciate any tips or helpful info you would be willing to offer though. Thanks for offering... Bob
Welcome to the 222 club Bob. Once you get the bugs out you will have a great boat.
Just had to take mine(zspar) to a metal shop (yip lost the mast after the the forestay let go {good thing it didn't happen day before in a big blow}- if you have a furler make sure you have a tang and toggle up there - check out trinka's post on subject) after trying to straighten a for\aft end after putting it under the boat and trailer with support either side of the end. It needs a lot of force, more than the combined weight of boat and trailer. Mind you your bend is lateral. In my research (net) there are folks who straightened side bends
They only took an hour with their hydrolic toys (after pick up and delivery - 140$)
Keep us posted
Tom C
S/V Mio Amore
OD 222
How far down from the top is the bend? You are going to want to scare up some heavy timbers. as little as 6" may work. The you will want some bar clamps. Next carve a plug the dimension of the inside of the mast. Now, you can clamp the mast between the two timers, and then force the plug through the mast. You will likely have to use a mallet, or a block of wood and a hammer to straighten the groove. You will also likely have to slightly overbend the mast to straighten. do this by putting thin strips of wood (paint sticks)on the high side and reclamping.
You could also wrap some heavy cloth around the mast on either side of the bend, shackle some chain around each side and put a hydraulic jack in the resulting loop of chain. Be sure to pad the mast with wood. Then pump up the jack. It is sort of like a bow and arrow, called a strongback.
Thanks everyone. I just got back from a trip and went back at it... The bend was maybe 1/2 way up between the deck and the spreaders. I blocked up the underside of the mast, had 3 friends sit on the upper part and I put all my weight on the lower part. It took awhile but we were able to get 95% of the bend out. I did need a mallet to get the curl out of the track for the sail. I'm back in business. Thanks for all your support! I hope to have it in the water in a week or two. I'll post pictures!
AWalker... the strongback thing is brilliant. I might try that to see if I can get it just a little straighter.
I should think 95% less bend without collapsing the mast section or having a really bad wrinkle is pretty good, maybe as good as you could expect. Aluminum doesn't like to be cold set, so you might just go with what you've got.
Glad it's worked out so far!
Brian
Glad it's worked out so far!
Brian
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