Mast Damage, how serious?

[Witzend]

Not freeze damage. Something hit the spreader from the forward direction pushing it back. It is clearly punched in at the aft and pulled out at the forward end of the joint, indicating a force was applied from forward twisting it back. Did you ever have your boat tied to a bulkhead where something up high could have interfered with the rig? Maybe a big wake came on when you were not at the boat causing the damage causing the boat to lurch inward and forward hitting the spreader. Was this boat ever put in the water with a lifting crane. We used one these to launch our J22 from SSA in Annapolis. If you were not careful the lift arm could hit the rig. How was the boat launched last?

 

[Brian M H23]

My guess is that the mast was being supported by the spreaders while not stepped, and someone put their weight on the mast.

 

[hfngotsail]

I would not weld this. As welding will temper the aluminum. You would have to know exactly what kind of aluminum it is made of. A new mast is expensive, but probably the only SAFE choice. I would hate to think it was welded and then become so soft (annealed) that it would bend (fold over) under the higher forces you may experience in a sudden blow. I'm nearly certain that the cause of this was not during use, but in storage, as the longitudal forces aren't great enough to produce that sort of damage. You would rip the rigging apart first. Most Aluminum doesn't like to be bent, it fractures (even microscopic cracks) almost instantly. As a Materials Manager at a DOD NASA R&D facility, I'm very knowledgable in aircraft construction materials, and methods, sailboats are very similar to aircraft construction in form and performance. If there is no other physical evidence of how it happened, I would go with the internal freezing theory, and snow load, possibly both in combination.

 

[Paul Brinkley]

Perhaps you could contact Hunter and ask them about welding the mast. If they are not sure, ask who made the mast, then contact the mast maker and ask them. If the mast was not heat-treated after it was extruded it should be ok to weld it. -Paul

 

[moparv104x4]

Being from Michigan that sure looks like freeze damage to me good call Ross. As far a repair or replace you have received lots of good information on that subject already.

 

[Dan Johnson]

Mast damage...

having looked at the pictures and read the replys, I think Brian and Tommay hit the nail on the head. From the middle picture, the mast appears to be low on the cabin top wiith the spreader ends also touching the cabin top.

Given your location, if the mast was used as the ridge pole for a tarp thrown over it with no intermediary supports along its length, the weight of the snow load could have pressed the mast down hard enough for the spreader to have deflected far enough to have ripped the mast extrusion along its thinnest wall, next to the sail track.

If not used as a ridge pole, then some other force has pressed it down hard enough to have ruptured the mast tube where the spreader attaches.

 

[capta]

Try searching the hurricane salvage companies. I found a Hunter 39 mast w/ complete roller main & head sail for $500. Of course freight would probably be several times that, but still, what a deal.

 

[Eric M]

Call Your INS company. I had a much smaller damaged area on my J/24 Mast and they had no hesitation to write the check for a new mast. The liability of a damaged mast is too great to risk a repair. I have seen several mast failures on the race course, not only do you loose the mast, but usually the sails and potential for injury to folks on your boat.

 

[Ross]

Doctors are taught that when they hear hoof beats they should look for horses not unicorns

 

[Dennis Kitchen]

Had a similar crack appear on my 23.5 mast. Interesting deductions given. P.O. dropped my mast so I assumed that caused it. Mine wasn't crushed at the spreaders attachment. I repaired it with acetelyne torch and aluminum solder after stop drilling the ends. I've since dropped it myself (nocked it down actually) with out recracking. Had you ever snagged a cap shroud while boat was moving? This would put a bending load on mast at that location and a crushing load at the spreader attachment. The link given for US spars should help. Also, someone was parting out a 23.5 on this board about 4 weeks ago.

 

[Patrick17430]

I have looked closely at your pictures. I feel that the boat was not properly tuned. During the sailing season, the wind forces worked & twisted the mast and did the damage. I feel that the mast should be replaced. It is important for the rigging to be balanced and tuned correctly so that this doesn't happen again. Loose rigging is dangerous.

X2. This makes much more sense. Unless snow load means the boat has been hit by an avalanche. I dont think an insurance co. would find that to be repairable and will not insure that repair for a second go around. It would be a de-masting waiting to happen. It's time for a new stick. My 2 cents.

 

[Hermit Scott]

How are the boats arranged in the slips next to your relative to your boat? Any possibilty of a "pretty big storm" causing some spreaders to clang together?

 

[JHarwood]

I have to agree with DannyS and catsailor. The mast has definately been "crushed" (destroyed) and severly deformed by a load on the spreader. I don't believe freezing is a factor at all other than making it brittle therefore causing more crack/split than bend. I think the only possible repair would be to cut out the entire damaged section, probaly 2 feet of it, replace it with an identical extrusion plus an internal sleeve as mentioned earlier. That sleeve would then have to be at least six feet long and That may ruin the flex as also mentioned. If it's insured get it replaced. If not, best of luck finding a used one. That really sucks.

 

[Peter Fridman]

Soldering your mast

I have a 95 Hunter 43, which on an incidental jibe,poped the boom vang bolts (2ea) from the base of the mast, as the bolts came out with quite a force they caused a rip on the base. Luckily mt son the Boy Scout applied a torniquete to the base and avoided further ripping on our way back to the marina.

I did get an expert solderer after talking to various "eager to make a buck riggers" but not to many know about soldering.

I have sailed the boat extensivelly for over 4 years, check the mast every time. I did add two additional bolts in new holes as a precaution and is doing great, eaven using the boom vang.

Looking at your pictures I dont know if you have enough space to install a strap after joining by soldering, and not afecting your main sail raul for additional reinforcement.

Good luck. it looks serious.

Lumita

thanks everyone for your replies.

it is a 93 boat so no warrenty on this mast.

I always take it down and put it up myself with my son's help, and the mast was not dropped. I was wondering if the damage might have happened during a storm last season. I keep it on a slip on Lake Monroe here in south central Indiana and we have some pretty big storms at times. I didn't notice this problem when we took the mast down last fall, but it would have been easy to miss too. I didn't notice it when sailing last season either, but I don't always look that closely at the mast and the spreaders are a ways up there.

this mast does not have a back stay. I'm going to look at the base plate in the morning.

I'm going to call US Spars in the morning.

I think I would just like to find another mast, preferably used as I can't afford much else. How hard is it to find a used mast here in the midwest? What should I know about replacing this mast?

Appreciate your help folks!

I must not have been living right or something for this to happen. sheeeeesh.

Thanks again, Lynnie

 

[Witzend]

Look at the evidence

The force was clearly from the front pushing back. If the damage was as a result of being on the deck with a cover and snow load as some have suggested the spreader would have been pushed forward, not back as the picture evidence suggests.

 

[Old Skool Neil]

The liability of a damaged mast is too great to risk a repair. I have seen several mast failures on the race course, not only do you loose the mast, but usually the sails and potential for injury to folks on your boat.

Lynnie,
In my opinion, Eric offers the best advice. You don't want to mess around with this. That mast is history.

 

[Ross]

Found this in my yard and thought to add it to the mix.

 

[richard18966]

Rich here with a 235 beneteau.
I have split my mast at the spreaders.
Zspar had to replace it.
They would only replace it if I replace all standing rigging with it.
Beneteau was aware of the problem & now makes a collar for the weak spreader connection.
By the way Some spar mfgs. offer a carbon fibre replacement.
Good Luck
Rich Pendl
Skipper Carpe Diem

 

[JoeWhite]

I looked closely at the spreader. You see that the spreader is bent upwards - this means that someone lifted the mast from the spreader. This may have happened when the mast was being lowered. The sail tract became norrower here due to the fact that - after the spreader was pulled up and released the metal was streatched and it tried to contract and this pushed the trac away from its original position. I must say that I am gulity of the same move when I drop my mast - I tend to want to grab the spreader to control the mast. If it was my boat I would get a new mast. It is not worth getting hurt when you are on the water.

 

[bffatcat]

Damaged mast

It really dosent matter what the cause was. Snow, Ice, improper tuning etc: I agree with cat sailor. You need a new mast. You might be able to pick up a used mast from one of the used marine supply outfits. Fixing your mast by welding alone is not gonna do it. You would
have to have a sleeve made up and riveted over the damaged area. Then there is the damaged sail track to deal with. By the time your done with the welding, the sleeve, the track
repair, it could very well cost you as much as a good used mast.