Just purchased a 1998 Hunter 340. Had rigging inspected after purchase. Rigger found a crack in upper mast section (see pics). Anyone else ever had this problem? Any option for repair other than mast replacement? Thanks.
Crack in mast - anyone else seen this?
- Thread starter baytreasurehunter
- Start date
Congratulations on your new sailboat and welcome to the forum!! Suggest consulting with one or more expert aluminum welders on the feasibility and options to repair your cracked mast before you replace it from a number of mast suppliers. Options to repair the mast are discussed in the threads below. They include:
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- Sleeve and weld
- Weld it (by an expert aluminum welder)
- Make a rectangular plate bent to the side curvature out of Al... Slightly thicker than the mast... I'd overlap the crack ends by 4-6"... Drill a hole at the crack ends to stop propagation, and stagger your attachment fasteners so they aren't all in straight lines...
- Cut mast halfway along crack. Find a similar mast section which can be trimmed to use as an internal sleeve at least as long as the crack. Have the crack welded by a professional
Mast Crack Repair? - Cruisers & Sailing Forums
Well, while trying to replace my old cast aluminum spreader brackets with SS ones I discovered that the lower bolt seized to the compression tube inside the mast . I didn't know that's what had
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How to repair aluminium mast.
Hi to all. There is the pictures . What do you think about it ? And please help how to repair. A friend of mine can weld aluminium. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 10x
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jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,812
Welcome to the Forum Treasure - Hunter.... I am guessing this discovery has unsweetened the Treasure of finding your Hunter...
No way of telling what measures are needed from the pictures. Such repairs are challenging. Not knowing the cause or the extent of the damage makes even guesses un scientific. I know I would not be heading out for a long cruise on an unfriendly sea in that condition.
I would want to have the mast removed to the hard and then inspected by professional rigger/metallurgist marine engineer type person provide an opinion.
No way of telling what measures are needed from the pictures. Such repairs are challenging. Not knowing the cause or the extent of the damage makes even guesses un scientific. I know I would not be heading out for a long cruise on an unfriendly sea in that condition.
I would want to have the mast removed to the hard and then inspected by professional rigger/metallurgist marine engineer type person provide an opinion.
Welcome to the forum!
The supplier who provided your mast to Hunter is probably still in business. I would figure out who they were, and contact them directly. Frankly, that is an amazing and scary crack! How long is it? We can't see the ends in the picture. If the cause of the crack is a manufacturing defect during extrusion of the mast section, the crack may appear elsewhere after you repair the cracked section.
You need advice from a real expert, preferably from the manufacturer, especially before you attempt any fix other than replacement of the mast.
Sorry for this disappointment during your honeymoon with your new boat. But kudos for you hiring a rigger, and to the rigger for spotting the defect! Catastrophic failure of the mast underway is a nasty alternative.
The supplier who provided your mast to Hunter is probably still in business. I would figure out who they were, and contact them directly. Frankly, that is an amazing and scary crack! How long is it? We can't see the ends in the picture. If the cause of the crack is a manufacturing defect during extrusion of the mast section, the crack may appear elsewhere after you repair the cracked section.
You need advice from a real expert, preferably from the manufacturer, especially before you attempt any fix other than replacement of the mast.
Sorry for this disappointment during your honeymoon with your new boat. But kudos for you hiring a rigger, and to the rigger for spotting the defect! Catastrophic failure of the mast underway is a nasty alternative.
Thanks for the replies. I am working with a rigging company to identify options. Certainly not going sailing until repaired or replaced. The surveyor did not go up the mast, I think that is standard practice..... guess I should have had someone go up the mast before I purchased. Live and learn...... the hard way.
Good advice from the forum and glad to hear you are working with a rigger on options!! You are correct, surveyors do not inspect the rigging OR engines in my experience. Like you, I purchased a 1987, 2004 and 2005 Hunter sailboats WITHOUT a rigging inspection but fortunately never had an issue. I had the rigging inspected before I decided to sell my 2004 Hunter 386 after 15 years ans coincidentally the buyer requested a rigging inspection as part of the purchase offer, which I was glad I did since it can take a while to schedule a rigging inspection.
I had heard/read somewhere that US Spars in Gainesville Fl had supplied some of the Hunter masts. I would contact them. I needed a boom and they were very helpful. I shipped my boom by LTL truck and shipping wasn't bad. They do have their own trucks that go to far places to minimize handling and shipping. They probably wait to fill a load to a specific area though.
In any case, the crack could indicate an overstress, fatigue or initial manufacture defect. IMO, none of those are repairable. While welding aluminum can be done to close/fill the gap, we don't know the alloy, weldability, or whether the final weld deposit has the same or better properties.
Was there a pre-purchase survey? You may have recourse against the broker and/or surveyor.
In any case, the crack could indicate an overstress, fatigue or initial manufacture defect. IMO, none of those are repairable. While welding aluminum can be done to close/fill the gap, we don't know the alloy, weldability, or whether the final weld deposit has the same or better properties.
Was there a pre-purchase survey? You may have recourse against the broker and/or surveyor.
There was a survey, but the survey specifically states that the rigging was only inspected from deck level. Not sure if I have any recourse there, but it is worth looking into. Thank you.
Maybe a new thread asking that very question. Has anyone ever experienced or heard of a marine surveyor being held accountable? Not talking about a rigger, nor a mechanic, nor an ABYC electrician but a marine surveyor.
I came across a long thread that is somewhat similar to what you are experiencing. Spoiler Alert! The outcome is unknow.
Boat Possibly Declared a Total Loss 1987 Hunter 31
It could be cracked due to trapped water that froze when the mast was off of the boat.....nothing more to add on repair scheme.
Mia there any corrosion present?
Mia there any corrosion present?
I’m sorry to bring more bad news, but the pictures show that the Tides black track is badly weathered too. Even though it hasn’t failed yet, it is at or nearing the end of its service life and needs to be replaced.