Bent Mast

[drterryh]

I have a friend with a small daysailer who has a bent aluminum mast. The mast was in it's cradle and another boat was next to it during a storm with mast stepped. Other boat blew over and put about a 15 degee bend in the middle of his mast. Any one have experience or suggestions on how to staightent an aluminum mast?? I have seen extensive posts for fixes for small bends, this is a shorter mast with more bend.
Thanks, Terry

 

[bffatcat]

you can straighten it but very carefully. It could break open at the point where it was damaged. If you can get it reasonably straight without further damage you would be well advised to put an aluminum sleeve around the area of the break for additional strength.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

or cut it and reweld it with a over wrap plate weld. or an inner sleeve.

mostly it depends on the mast, and boat. (details pls?)

any insurance? how long of mast?

if its short enough, buy a new one and be done... if its a one design that's raced, forget about the repair. it will never work out right... for racing.

 

[Manureva]

get the insurance to pay for a new one, if you had some, or get the other boat insurance to pay for the mast, it is clearly his fault, i would anyway...

 

[Cool Beans]

could you cut out the bent section and and splice in a new one?

 

[sailaway78]

I agree with insurance

The other boat, or the yard should be the responsible party. I would firmly tell whomever is liable, that I want a new mast.

 

[JVB]

If the damaged mast is sleeved or cut and welded the bending characteristics will be significantly altered. In other words it will be stiffer is some places and not bend uniformly when loaded. If the mast is simply bent back the metal will have been stretched, worked, and weakened. Don't settle for a repaired mast. Only a replacement that has never been damaged will work like an undamaged mast. IMHO a damaged mast is just scrap metal and hazardous to use.

 

[packman]

straightening

Having been through this situation I can tell you how my research came out. the bill for a new one came to over $4,000 from Ballenger for a direct replacement. I watched craigslist and ebay and bought an offshore spars double spreader rig off a jackett 27 for $300, the shipping was way more than the price. The downside is having to learn how to rig it and modify the boat. It's taken me quite some time and some work with an engineer buddy to make sure it's rigged properly and strong enough to suit. In your case, a bend in the middle of the mast, even if you could get it reasonably straight(doubtfull), will always be a weak spot. Depending on what kind of boat it was the mast may be fairly common and easy to get at a reasonable price. If ya just gotta, you can try to aquire a short section of the same mast material and cut out the bent section and sleeve it, that's about 1/3 the price of a new stick.

 

[Manureva]

exactly why it is important to carry insurance