Can a bent mast be fixed

[brmgg]

A storm came through and blew a large tree limb in our backyard on our sailboat. It pushed the mast down onto the bow pulpit and bent the mast slightly and the front bow pulpit noticeably. Can the mast be straightened or do I need to buy a new mast? Where would I get a new mast? I have a 20 foot Oday day sailor kept in our backyard in Wisconsin

 

[Joe11688]

A storm came through and blew a large tree limb in our backyard on our sailboat. It pushed the mast down onto the bow pulpit and bent the mast slightly and the front bow pulpit noticeably. Can the mast be straightened or do I need to buy a new mast? Where would I get a new mast? I have a 20 foot Oday day sailor kept in our backyard in Wisconsin

If it's not a sharp bend, it can be straightened out. Check with a marine metal fabrication business in your area. They have all the bending machines to do this type of repair.

 

[brmgg]

If it's not a sharp bend, it can be straightened out. Check with a marine metal fabrication business in your area. They have all the bending machines to do this type of repair.

Thank you for your quick response. The bend is about 6 ft up from the base of the mast and is less than a 4 degree bend. There is no kink or mark on the mast at all. The bow pulpit took the full force from the tree branch which should be able to be fixed easily. Also there was no deck damage.

 

[Joe11688]

Thank you for your quick response. The bend is about 6 ft up from the base of the mast and is less than a 4 degree bend. There is no kink or mark on the mast at all. The bow pulpit took the full force from the tree branch which should be able to be fixed easily. Also there was no deck damage.

You may be able to straighten the mast yourself but care needs to be taken. I know that others on this forum have straightened out bent masts with success and maybe they will chime in and offer some tips on how to go about it. Years ago I had a branch come down and break the gunwale off my cat boat so I know the feeling. Next week I'm going to uncover my boat and take the mast and chain it to a pole behind my house. We have metal thieves in my city and they worry me more than tree branches. Good luck with that.
Joe

 

[brmgg]

You may be able to straighten the mast yourself but care needs to be taken. I know that others on this forum have straightened out bent masts with success and maybe they will chime in and offer some tips on how to go about it. Years ago I had a branch come down and break the gunwale off my cat boat so I know the feeling. Next week I'm going to uncover my boat and take the mast and chain it to a pole behind my house. We have metal thieves in my city and they worry me more than tree branches. Good luck with that.
Joe

The Power and Light Co in Beloit, WI has had trouble with 8 gauge copper wire being cut off of power poles for drug money but haven't heard about metal taken from homes...yet. It amazes me what people will do for pocket money for drugs. Our boat is a 1977 vintage craft with a small cabin that we sail on a few near-by lakes but mostly on Green Bay waters. It's really not big enough for Lake Michigan. Basically we use it as a day sailer. It is kept covered in our backyard so the fiberglass is in pretty good condition. Question: What do you use to maintain the fiberglass on your boat. I am going to see if I can't repair the stainless steel bow pulpit myself because I don't think it is possible to purchase a new one. Stainless steel does not bend back very well so I may need to have it welded. I would appreciate your thoughts on this. Thank you again for your responses. BTW, our boat is called the Wind Puffin. Bob

 

[Joe11688]

The Power and Light Co in Beloit, WI has had trouble with 8 gauge copper wire being cut off of power poles for drug money but haven't heard about metal taken from homes...yet. It amazes me what people will do for pocket money for drugs. Our boat is a 1977 vintage craft with a small cabin that we sail on a few near-by lakes but mostly on Green Bay waters. It's really not big enough for Lake Michigan. Basically we use it as a day sailer. It is kept covered in our backyard so the fiberglass is in pretty good condition. Question: What do you use to maintain the fiberglass on your boat. I am going to see if I can't repair the stainless steel bow pulpit myself because I don't think it is possible to purchase a new one. Stainless steel does not bend back very well so I may need to have it welded. I would appreciate your thoughts on this. Thank you again for your responses. BTW, our boat is called the Wind Puffin. Bob

That 8 gauge bare copper open wire is what some towns have used for fire alarm wire and the crooks aren't likely to get hurt cutting it down. In my city, the crooks have been taking copper pipes out of vacant houses and also Catalytic Converters off cars at dealerships.
I really don't go all out with hull cleaners on my boat. I've used Star-bright Hull cleaner to remove stains on my hull, but I won't use it on my deck because I'm afraid that it will eat out the caulking under my deck hardware and also under the gunwale strip. I've had leaks in my boat in the past and they're all fixed now and I aim to keep them that way. If I can get my boat cleaned well enough with soap and water and 409 Cleaner, I'll wax it a few times with a marine Teflon wax. Stay clear of any household cleansers with Oxalic Acid. It will remove the deep stains and dirt from Fiberglass, but it will also eat out caulking. I found that out the hard way. Try looking through this site's archives on bent masts and how they straightened them. I'm pretty sure that someone had brought this subject up just last year. Good luck with that Bob.
Joe

 

[brmgg]

That 8 gauge bare copper open wire is what some towns have used for fire alarm wire and the crooks aren't likely to get hurt cutting it down. In my city, the crooks have been taking copper pipes out of vacant houses and also Catalytic Converters off cars at dealerships.
I really don't go all out with hull cleaners on my boat. I've used Star-bright Hull cleaner to remove stains on my hull, but I won't use it on my deck because I'm afraid that it will eat out the caulking under my deck hardware and also under the gunwale strip. I've had leaks in my boat in the past and they're all fixed now and I aim to keep them that way. If I can get my boat cleaned well enough with soap and water and 409 Cleaner, I'll wax it a few times with a marine Teflon wax. Stay clear of any household cleansers with Oxalic Acid. It will remove the deep stains and dirt from Fiberglass, but it will also eat out caulking. I found that out the hard way. Try looking through this site's archives on bent masts and how they straightened them. I'm pretty sure that someone had brought this subject up just last year. Good luck with that Bob.
Joe

Thanks, will look up the archives. Bob

 

[RichBone]

Cutting copper pipes out of vacant houses? HA. Any idiot can do that?
Around here we got thieves looking for "Darwin Awards" climbing utility poles for the copper in the wires and transformers.
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/22846500/detail.html
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/22303585/detail.html
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/11307142/detail.html

Rich

 

[Joe11688]

Cutting copper pipes out of vacant houses? HA. Any idiot can do that?
Around here we got thieves looking for "Darwin Awards" climbing utility poles for the copper in the wires and transformers.
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/22846500/detail.html
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/22303585/detail.html

Rich

Unbelievable, Hu Rich? The guy probably reached up and grabbed a hot phase from a 13,800 volt line. What a fool! I used to get up close to that stuff standing in a bucket and the hair on my arms would rise. Potent stuff. That guy must have been really be hard up to do something like that.
Joe