I just dropped my mast about 5 feet!

[jfschena]

I kept the mast up all winter on our 1984 oday 26. While running the halyard back up it separated from the messenger line. Today we lowered the mast using a set up the previous owner had used every season, basically a PVC gin pole system. It worked great until the mast was about 5 feet above the push pit.

The PVC shattered causing the boom vang we were using to separate. After collecting ourselves and verifying no injuries, I inspected the mast and mast step. No apparent damage.

I'm planning to look again as I can hardly believe it. It sounded awful.

Any recommendations on checking for damage?

In your opinion, would damage show itself or could it be hidden somehow--only to show up later.

Feeling a little dumb

Thanks, Joe

 

[Davidasailor26]

Happened to us many years ago when one of the marina crane operators let go of the wrong line and let the mast drop about 5 or 10 feet with only the friction in the crane's blocks to slow it. No damage for us. I'd guess the key things to check would be electrical fixtures like masthead lights and the antenna, as well as the spreader mounts. I'm no expert but I'd expect that the extrusion itself could handle the shock with no ill effects provided it's not dented where it landed.

 

[Brian S]

Probably the only thing you need to worry about is a small dent in either the mast or the railing where the two met. But probably not. Think about how much force is on the mast when there's a gust - so, structurally, a little drop like that won't have much effect, except a small, localized dent.

 

[jfschena]

Thanks guys.

I guess I should consider myself lucky it broke where it did and not 5 feet from the top on the way back up.

Joe

 

[RichBone]

And pvc pipe is not a good idea unless maybe it's 3" or 4" pipe. Even then I wouldn't have much faith in it.
Sight down the mast to see if it's straight. You should be alright. The pushpit probably suffered more in the mishap.
Go to Home Depot/Lowes and get EMT http://www.homedepot.com/b/Electrical-Electrical-Boxes-Conduit-Fittings-Conduit/N-5yc1vZbohl/Ntk-Extended/Ntt-emt?Ntx=mode+matchpartialmax&NCNI-5
It's light and cheap enough that you can get a larger size than what is strong enough for the job. Man, you were lucky that it only dropped 5 ft. Don't always trust ideas by POs.

 

[Brian S]

Yeah, RBone is right. I'd never trust PVC in this application. It's just too flexible. A gin pole should only be metal tubing or maybe a 2x4 or 2x3 for a smaller mast.

 

[caguy]

Brian + 1.

The last 5 feet are critical. The mast begins to develop a tremendous amount of leverage at that angle and puts a lot of strain on the whole mast stepping system. If you can rig up a crutch to support the mast 7 - 10 feet above the stern rail. ( higher the better). It will reduce a lot of the initial strain. There are plenty of crutch solutions posted if you search. Also the taller the gin pole the better. I am a big fan of the A frame systems.

 

[Brian S]

+1 for caguy! Good points on a tall mast crutch.

I built a mast crutch out of an 8' 2x4, used a 1/2" square U bolt (for attaching stuff to trailers) cut in half to make L shaped pintles to fit into my transom gudgeons. It has a roller at the top to allow rolling the mast from bow pulpit to mast step pivot. I thought it was too tall the first time I put it on the boat, but the truth is, because the mast is already up at a 35º or so angle, there's no real heavy lift before I start walking it up into position. Admittedly this is on an 18.5' boat, but still. If I had a gin pole, most of the stressful lift would already be done with such a high crutch.

 

[jfschena]

I checked out every which way I could think of. Not a scratch. I can't even find where the 2 came in contact. With all the rigging and stays and foil flopping around it probably seemed worse than it was. It was a 4 inch PVC with a reinforced collar at the end where the jib halyard attached. I guess uv deteriorates PVC.

There is a mast crutch setup. However, I was abeam the mast step keeping the mast steady laterally when the mishap occurred.

The written instruction we got from the previous owner was for raising the mast. We were working them in reverse so I guess I failed the appreciate how the crutch could have helped lowering the mast. We also watch a YouTube video. It looked pretty easy

Thanks for all your help. Joe