Help. In a mad dash to get my boat out of the water before Katrina I managed to break the mast away from it's foot when I was lowing the mast. It appears the rivets broke away. Not sure what to do. It looks like the rivets pulled through the aluminum at the foot of the mast. Am I safe to rivet the foot back to the shoe? What is the purpose do those tiny little rivets? Jim
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US Spars
Contact: US Spars Inc. 6320 NW 123rd Place Gainesville, FL 32653 386-462-3760 386-462-3448 fax info@usspars.com http://www.usspars.com/
Contact: US Spars Inc. 6320 NW 123rd Place Gainesville, FL 32653 386-462-3760 386-462-3448 fax info@usspars.com http://www.usspars.com/
Thanks Rick, One more question
The casting is not bent. It appears the rivets ripped through the aluminun mast. Looks like small u shaped chanels/openings. No holes exsit as it tore all the way through and out the bottom of the foot (u shaped slots.) Also, the pin that hooks through the casting looks like it "hooks" into the bottom of the cast vs going through a pre drilled hole. Bottom line, I have four u-shaped openings on the foot of the mast. I believe two are for the pin and two for the rivets to hold the casting on. Does this sound right. Is it true once I step the mast the pressure from the stays keep it seated. Can it jump out?
The casting is not bent. It appears the rivets ripped through the aluminun mast. Looks like small u shaped chanels/openings. No holes exsit as it tore all the way through and out the bottom of the foot (u shaped slots.) Also, the pin that hooks through the casting looks like it "hooks" into the bottom of the cast vs going through a pre drilled hole. Bottom line, I have four u-shaped openings on the foot of the mast. I believe two are for the pin and two for the rivets to hold the casting on. Does this sound right. Is it true once I step the mast the pressure from the stays keep it seated. Can it jump out?
Mine had Done the Same Thing Once
The casting on mine was twisted some but it still worked. I ordered a new one from US Spars received the wrong one then finally got the new one and six months or so later switched the new one out. The mast was fine in the up position the whole time. Before you put the mast up get the casting number and talk to Julian at US Spars to see if a new one is available. Fit the foot and see if it still pivots easily you may only need to drill new holes and rivet it in. I would be concerned about the holes continueing to tear. On mine the rivets gave out and the mast was fine I used the same hole for the new foot. Let me know if you have any other questions.
The casting on mine was twisted some but it still worked. I ordered a new one from US Spars received the wrong one then finally got the new one and six months or so later switched the new one out. The mast was fine in the up position the whole time. Before you put the mast up get the casting number and talk to Julian at US Spars to see if a new one is available. Fit the foot and see if it still pivots easily you may only need to drill new holes and rivet it in. I would be concerned about the holes continueing to tear. On mine the rivets gave out and the mast was fine I used the same hole for the new foot. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Thanks Again Rick
The foot of my mast is what suffered the damage. My cast is still sound. Do you have a hunter 23.5? I believe there should be four rivets. Mine has two rivets and a bolt that goes through through the mast and cast foot (I think these used to be rivets at one time). Sooo, the foot of my mast has four u shaped holes. I intend to try and rivet all four back and hope for the best. Do you think this is a sound thing to do? I thought about wrapping the foot of the mast with some aluminum strip----that means more rivet holes. I am afraid I will compromise the stability of the base of the mast. Your thoughts---!
The foot of my mast is what suffered the damage. My cast is still sound. Do you have a hunter 23.5? I believe there should be four rivets. Mine has two rivets and a bolt that goes through through the mast and cast foot (I think these used to be rivets at one time). Sooo, the foot of my mast has four u shaped holes. I intend to try and rivet all four back and hope for the best. Do you think this is a sound thing to do? I thought about wrapping the foot of the mast with some aluminum strip----that means more rivet holes. I am afraid I will compromise the stability of the base of the mast. Your thoughts---!
Yes, I Have a 23.5
I think I would try to add the strip of aluminum around the mast on the out side and then use the same rivet holes. I do not think it would be unreasonable to raise the mast the way it is and keep a real close watch on it and then get a strip welded sometime during the three weeks of winter.
I think I would try to add the strip of aluminum around the mast on the out side and then use the same rivet holes. I do not think it would be unreasonable to raise the mast the way it is and keep a real close watch on it and then get a strip welded sometime during the three weeks of winter.
Mast is going up
Thanks Rick, I intend to rivet/rebolt and step the mast. Planning an overnight this Labor Day weekend. You cannot imagine how greatful I am for you input. Your actually not that far away, ever thought about a trip to just east of Panama City? You could always take the ditch (coastal canal). We are thinking about a trip to your area this fall.
Thanks Rick, I intend to rivet/rebolt and step the mast. Planning an overnight this Labor Day weekend. You cannot imagine how greatful I am for you input. Your actually not that far away, ever thought about a trip to just east of Panama City? You could always take the ditch (coastal canal). We are thinking about a trip to your area this fall.
No Fair!
Three weeks of winter? How about a bit of sensitivity for those of us with 8 @*#*@*@ months of (real) winter! :{ My boat is 90 minutes away, so going from memory, what about just drilling new rivet holes? Mine has 4 rivets, no bolt. I drilled them out and replaced them once already when I ran foam pipe insulation up over the masthead wires (and down from the mast head too) to quiet the clanging wire (highly recommended). I used SS rivets. This scenario makes me think perhaps aluminum rivets would be better, as they might just pull out or shear off and not damage the mast? Rick - were your rivets aluminum when they pulled out? ...RickM...
Three weeks of winter? How about a bit of sensitivity for those of us with 8 @*#*@*@ months of (real) winter! :{ My boat is 90 minutes away, so going from memory, what about just drilling new rivet holes? Mine has 4 rivets, no bolt. I drilled them out and replaced them once already when I ran foam pipe insulation up over the masthead wires (and down from the mast head too) to quiet the clanging wire (highly recommended). I used SS rivets. This scenario makes me think perhaps aluminum rivets would be better, as they might just pull out or shear off and not damage the mast? Rick - were your rivets aluminum when they pulled out? ...RickM...
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