Mast Base Pitting & Structural?
- Thread starter redtrianglecoast
- Start date
Hello,
I suspect my instincts are correct that this is a serious issue.
I have a Pearson 303, and my bilge was filling up. I could not source it until I did a lot of scraping and this was revealed just on one side.
I assume this is compromised structurally?
It’s on both sides - the water now drains out my mast thru what looks like a pitted hole all the way thru.
It’s so far just a liveaboard, but I wanted some opinions on what to do?
Cut it, replace it, don’t sail it, scuttle the boat?
many thanks.
Lucas - new to owning a boat.
I suspect my instincts are correct that this is a serious issue.
I have a Pearson 303, and my bilge was filling up. I could not source it until I did a lot of scraping and this was revealed just on one side.
I assume this is compromised structurally?
It’s on both sides - the water now drains out my mast thru what looks like a pitted hole all the way thru.
It’s so far just a liveaboard, but I wanted some opinions on what to do?
Cut it, replace it, don’t sail it, scuttle the boat?
many thanks.
Lucas - new to owning a boat.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,439
Welcome, Lucus.
It looks like you inherited a corrosion problem, which has been going on for some time.
The mast transmits the wind force to the boat's hull so that the sail can power the boat. That swiss cheese aluminum will be a problem.
You could go to the expense of getting a new mast.
Don't sail it. In my opinion, the mast in that condition is only a matter of time before it collapses and comes down.
Scuttling creates a whole lot of other problems.
It looks like you inherited a corrosion problem, which has been going on for some time.
Yes.
The mast transmits the wind force to the boat's hull so that the sail can power the boat. That swiss cheese aluminum will be a problem.
That depends. What else has been corroding? Regarding the mast, you can pull it from the boat, cut the cancer section off, and attach a replacement piece. (The height of the mast is critical for the sails you have and the wire rigging holding the mast in place. That would all have to be changed if you just cut the cancer portion out.)
You could go to the expense of getting a new mast.
Don't sail it. In my opinion, the mast in that condition is only a matter of time before it collapses and comes down.
Scuttling creates a whole lot of other problems.
Hello ,
thank for the responsive opinion and advice. I had a feeling that it could possibly snap, just the force of the sails on that portion could be tremendous, just by seeing it- I was like yeah this is a problem.
I have been seeing several people cut the problem and re fit with fiberglass blocks and bolts etc. Retaining the mast height.
I have not sailed it yet, and certainly won’t now.
It just seems the boat is not probably worth the cost of repairing it - so that becomes the next step.
Many thanks again.
thank for the responsive opinion and advice. I had a feeling that it could possibly snap, just the force of the sails on that portion could be tremendous, just by seeing it- I was like yeah this is a problem.
I have been seeing several people cut the problem and re fit with fiberglass blocks and bolts etc. Retaining the mast height.
I have not sailed it yet, and certainly won’t now.
It just seems the boat is not probably worth the cost of repairing it - so that becomes the next step.
Many thanks again.
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,439
Can the boat be made seaworthy at an affordable cost is the primary question. The mast is one element. What about the rest of the boat? Hull, deck, auxiliary power, plumbing, electrical, sails are the other key systems. Are they serviceable?
Hello,
Yes, I would say a good 90% of the boat is in good shape for its age. No hull issues, plumbing I am slowly replacing. I fixed most of the leaks as of now. I have two more to attend to in the summer as it is a window and I sealed it off. The deck is in great shape- and slowly repairing the wood.
The Yanmar runs great, I run it every two weeks. The sails are in decent shape and extra sails that came with it.
The interior is clean for the most part. It needs a bottom paint job and hull would be good in general.
I feel that it’s a strong boat overall. This just alarmed me -
I know Pearsons have deck fittings leaks- and I have sourced and secured all those of which there was 2.. All electrical works, could be re- wired I suppose. Has a solar and I just had to get a new battery.
L.
Yes, I would say a good 90% of the boat is in good shape for its age. No hull issues, plumbing I am slowly replacing. I fixed most of the leaks as of now. I have two more to attend to in the summer as it is a window and I sealed it off. The deck is in great shape- and slowly repairing the wood.
The Yanmar runs great, I run it every two weeks. The sails are in decent shape and extra sails that came with it.
The interior is clean for the most part. It needs a bottom paint job and hull would be good in general.
I feel that it’s a strong boat overall. This just alarmed me -
I know Pearsons have deck fittings leaks- and I have sourced and secured all those of which there was 2.. All electrical works, could be re- wired I suppose. Has a solar and I just had to get a new battery.
L.
I also wouldn’t trust the mast to sail in that condition. Sailing will put extra tension on the shrouds, increasing compressive load on the mast and possibly collapsing that section if it’s weak enough. Once that section collapses the rest of the rig will go slack and potentially damage or dismast the rest of the spar.
The pitted hole is probably not the root cause of any water ingress. Any mast will have allow some amount of water inside it, eventually running out some kind of weep holes at the mast step. With a keel stepped mast that will be in the bilge. I suspect that water from inside the mast or any other deck fitting leaks sat in the bilge, and that there are grounding issues with the mast causing some stray current corrosion on the submerged aluminum.
Replacing the mast is probably not a great economic option relative to the cost of the boat. Given the location of the pitting in the picture, if the affected area doesn’t go up too far I don’t hate the idea of cutting the mast and building a new elevated platform under it to preserve the mast height. That is an area carrying lots of stress so I don’t know what other complications that may introduce, but I think it’s worth looking into.
The pitted hole is probably not the root cause of any water ingress. Any mast will have allow some amount of water inside it, eventually running out some kind of weep holes at the mast step. With a keel stepped mast that will be in the bilge. I suspect that water from inside the mast or any other deck fitting leaks sat in the bilge, and that there are grounding issues with the mast causing some stray current corrosion on the submerged aluminum.
Replacing the mast is probably not a great economic option relative to the cost of the boat. Given the location of the pitting in the picture, if the affected area doesn’t go up too far I don’t hate the idea of cutting the mast and building a new elevated platform under it to preserve the mast height. That is an area carrying lots of stress so I don’t know what other complications that may introduce, but I think it’s worth looking into.
I would say the pitting goes up maybe 5 inches to be sure to cut it all away. The things I have read about doing that seem successful - so I will research more on that.
Being that it’s just a liveaboard for now- the necessity is only treating the damaged area as soon as possible. I figure if I pull it out for a bottom paint job - that would be the best time to correct this issue.
I was aware that going into this venture was not about insuring the value on the boat, it’s just matter of how much is to much money to put into it and where to draw that line for my needs.
Again, than you for all the advice and opinions. It greatly helps a greenhorn like myself to get some solid answers and opinions.
Lucas
Being that it’s just a liveaboard for now- the necessity is only treating the damaged area as soon as possible. I figure if I pull it out for a bottom paint job - that would be the best time to correct this issue.
I was aware that going into this venture was not about insuring the value on the boat, it’s just matter of how much is to much money to put into it and where to draw that line for my needs.
Again, than you for all the advice and opinions. It greatly helps a greenhorn like myself to get some solid answers and opinions.
Lucas
If the corrosion is just 5" up, I'd do what is described above. Your base plate structure is also highly corroded and about to fail, so you need a new mast base anyway. Cut off that 5" and fab up an elevated platform with a new base mount. It puts the foot of the mast out of the bilge, and you don't have to refit the rigging/boom/sails. There won't be any issues or complications with this change, and any forces will stay as original.
Mark
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,439
A build-up approach is not simple. I would consult a shipwright or marine designer. They would be able to give you the necessary structural design information to build the construction and tie it into the hull properly. Think of the foundation of a house that needs to survive a tornado-like storm. This structure is critical. Wrong, and it’s dangerous.
You ask, how much is too much to put into it?
This is a decision based on your desires.
Your Pearson 303 likely has a mast weighing 500 plus lbs. You will need to remove the mast from the boat.
Decision time.
Try to build up the hull to the mast base, replacing the section of the mast removed.
Or
Rebuild the aluminum mast.
Then, you'll need to cut the bad section away, build/find a replacement piece, weld the two together, and add a sleeve to cover the two pieces.
Once finished, you will have a sailboat again and have saved the value you placed in the boat when you bought it. It is a difficult but survivable path if you choose to follow it.
You ask, how much is too much to put into it?
This is a decision based on your desires.
- You describe the boat as a live aboard. How much do you want to put into your home to make it safe?
- Do you want to sail the boat? Sailing the boat is a high-risk idea until the mast is repaired.
- Whatever you put into the boat to repair this issue will not be returned when you sell it. Think of a house without a kitchen that is for sale.
Your Pearson 303 likely has a mast weighing 500 plus lbs. You will need to remove the mast from the boat.
Decision time.
Try to build up the hull to the mast base, replacing the section of the mast removed.
Or
Rebuild the aluminum mast.
Then, you'll need to cut the bad section away, build/find a replacement piece, weld the two together, and add a sleeve to cover the two pieces.
Once finished, you will have a sailboat again and have saved the value you placed in the boat when you bought it. It is a difficult but survivable path if you choose to follow it.
Here is a wider shot of the bilge area.
It seems that the boat was sitting for about 2 years.
However that amount of corrosion took more than a couple years to build.
The plate at the base is corroded thru at two of the bolts holding it down. The bilge and everything else seems pretty ok. Aside from there being pliers, two lighters, a bottle of shampoo and an old plastic oil bottle swimming around under the floor - it’s now cleared out.
Is rhere anything I can do, to slow the corrosion? It would just be temporary, but can I put some kind of bonding in the pits. Aside from keeping it dry after every rain.
I don’t plan on sailing it for sure until this is corrected.
I suspect I will take it to Berkeley Marine for the work.
thank for all the input. All extremely helpful.
lucas
jssailem
SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
- Oct 22, 2014
- 22,439
Lucas, Berkeley Marine is an excellent location. I watched them revive an abandoned Cal40 into a world-class ocean racer.
You have a world-class expert in mast construction, just south near Watsonville, called Ballenger Spar Systems. They know their stuff. You might ask them about your problem to see what they say.
www.ballengerspars.com
You have a world-class expert in mast construction, just south near Watsonville, called Ballenger Spar Systems. They know their stuff. You might ask them about your problem to see what they say.
Custom aluminum and Carbon Masts and Booms | Ballenger Spar Systems
Ballenger Spar Systems, Inc. has been producing the highest quality racing and cruising spars for thirty five years. We carry an extensive inventory of extrusion and spar parts for sailboats from eight to eighty feet.