Mast foot ripped just about off H26

[Chiriqui]

Well I did it trying to raise my H26 mast forgetting about using the stays that must be on the boat somewhere. I am located in Panama. I am going to start looking for someone that could maybe make a sleeve. However maybe someone on this forum knows of some out fit that can make one for me ? I am open to any suggestion for fixing this mast. It was in storage over a year . First because of Covid restrictions and then a struggle getting it sea worthy again here in Panama, replacing this and that and some health issues that required me getting back to a VA hospital in the US. I should have reviewed this procedure for raising and lowering and would have would have used the bloody stays to hold the mast while I raised it. Here in bed thinking about todays disaster it came to me.

 

[Chiriqui]

Oh the other side of the mast

 

[dmax]

You could cut off the damaged part and re-install the base - looks like about six inches. You would then need to shorten up the rigging and your boom would be lower. It could also probably be welded but that would take an expert to say. Determine the mast manufacturer and get in touch with them to see if they make a sleeve, probably the easiest route.

 

[Benny17441]

Well I did it trying to raise my H26 mast

Just make the mast shorter by cutting above the gash. Drill holes to re-rivet to the base. you will have to adjust the turnbuckles on the stays and shrouds. See if you can drop the goose neck to lower the boom if the sail needs the additional few inches to fully deploy. Not really familiar with your boat but suggest you may discuss this option with a rigger.

 

[kloudie1]

ooooohhh.. Torsion failure.. I think the cracks could be welded up since most of the sailing load is compression at the mast base.. then some extra vigilance would be called for when raising or lowering the stick. you could take the boat to a shop that welds aluminum and get it done pretty quickly. Good luck with it.

 

[Chiriqui]

ooooohhh.. Torsion failure.. I think the cracks could be welded up since most of the sailing load is compression at the mast base.. then some extra vigilance would be called for when raising or lowering the stick. you could take the boat to a shop that welds aluminum and get it done pretty quickly. Good luck with it.

My Marina owner will take a look at it and advised he.He thinks it can be welded, and that are skilled aluminum welders we can get. Maybe a collar of aluminum around the base and riveted to the existing base after it is welded? Thanks for your feed back. I've had the boat for 11 yrs. How did I forget those two stays, maybe it's my age oh well if I can get back on the water with a fix I'll take it. Always an event like this ending my sailing days here without solution has been the case with a boat in Panamá.

 

[shemandr]

An alternative fix could be to cut off the broken foot of the mast and elevate the mast step the same amount. A block of hardwood could elevate the mast step. Theoretically the rigging and sails wouldn't need modification. I'm not sure how the elevated step would impact mast raising and lowering but I'm aware of other designs for which the mast folds above the deck.

 

[CrispyCringle]

Well, thats a big No Bueno. Id agree with above in raising the mast step. Pretty simple to make a raised platform. Id use something like Starboard over wood. If you cut the mast and just try to shorten everything you may find you have unintended gotchas- jib too tall, etc. Plus its more work to try and shorten everything.

 

[Rick Webb]

Bet these guys can get you a sleeve

Boat Information | U.S. Spars

 

[Rick Webb]

Cutting the mast and raising the mast foot is likely to create issues with the mast raising system as the pivot point is also going to be raised.

If adding a sleeve and a new section thought needs to go into where the joint for the sleeve ends up in relation to the gin pole and the point pressures it induces. Seems like the new section should extend above the point where the gin pole attaches.

Welding and sleeving around the damaged section would seem to be pretty straight forward.

If you do not trailer often and there is a mast crane available to you that creates an option for less involved repairs that remove the mast raising system.

I attach the bridles to the gin pole when stored to prevent just such an occurrence

Good luck, be sure to post back and let us know how you got it back together.