Two days ago while my boat was moored at the marina a wind storm came up with winds appox. 40 to 60 knots. It demasted my boat! Not by breaking my forestay or any other rigging, by breaking the casted fitting(into three pieces) on the bottom of the mast. My guestion is, has this ever happen to anyone. I will have to purchase a new mast. Any recommandations on a mast. orignal type or a different type. I fear that another mast with a cast base may do the same thing. I have been sailing for two summers, and I am at a lost as to why this happen.
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Spreader failure
I doubt that a broken casting on your mast step caused the dismasting. A failed spreader or turnbuckle that came undone because it wasn't pinned is the more probable cause. Once the mast is up, the load on the step is pretty much straight down. Even if its cracked or broken the mast will probably stay up. I hope you can locate a new mast quickly. Did the mast actually break? If you have a break or bend right at the spreaders it a pretty storng indication of failure there.
I doubt that a broken casting on your mast step caused the dismasting. A failed spreader or turnbuckle that came undone because it wasn't pinned is the more probable cause. Once the mast is up, the load on the step is pretty much straight down. Even if its cracked or broken the mast will probably stay up. I hope you can locate a new mast quickly. Did the mast actually break? If you have a break or bend right at the spreaders it a pretty storng indication of failure there.
mast replqacement
It is quite unusual that the mast step broke thus causing failure. If the spreaders are ok and the standing rigging is fine, then the hinge pin came out thus causing the base of the mast to move and the rest is history. I suspect that the hinge pin may not be secured with a circular ring or cotter pin. You can replace the mast and mast step. Call Gregg emerson at Hunter and ask hime for the number of U>S> Spars. They will have the mast and parts for ;you. d Crazy Dave
It is quite unusual that the mast step broke thus causing failure. If the spreaders are ok and the standing rigging is fine, then the hinge pin came out thus causing the base of the mast to move and the rest is history. I suspect that the hinge pin may not be secured with a circular ring or cotter pin. You can replace the mast and mast step. Call Gregg emerson at Hunter and ask hime for the number of U>S> Spars. They will have the mast and parts for ;you. d Crazy Dave
Step Problem?
I broke the mast foot when a turnbuckle got caught under it and I was raising it way too fast. Any clever welder with inert gas can put the pieces back together and it'll be stronger than original. It might be cheaper/easier to replace the foot but my old Spars mast would be hard to fit, I'm afraid. BUT>>> the foot wasn't the problem! You don't even need the pin after the mast is raised. The casting is designed so it can't slip laterally and the shrouds/forestay pull downward so it can't possibly go anywhere. I'd sure suspect that the tensions were slack on some or all the rigging. The H240 seems to have some big pipes to brace the mast to the cabin roof..... maybe there's a problem in the H23.5 that we didn't realize? Ken S/V Wouff Hong
I broke the mast foot when a turnbuckle got caught under it and I was raising it way too fast. Any clever welder with inert gas can put the pieces back together and it'll be stronger than original. It might be cheaper/easier to replace the foot but my old Spars mast would be hard to fit, I'm afraid. BUT>>> the foot wasn't the problem! You don't even need the pin after the mast is raised. The casting is designed so it can't slip laterally and the shrouds/forestay pull downward so it can't possibly go anywhere. I'd sure suspect that the tensions were slack on some or all the rigging. The H240 seems to have some big pipes to brace the mast to the cabin roof..... maybe there's a problem in the H23.5 that we didn't realize? Ken S/V Wouff Hong
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