Hi, I'm looking at a 40 yr old Cal 25 that has the old mast type so I'm placing an age of about 40yrs on it, It was also a thin one. It seems to have some pitting I guess. I'm not certain from what, possibly oxidation I guess. I'm not sure how concerned I should be about this. Here is a pic. t seems to be a section of about 10' and probably 8 of these holes. If you have any input it would be great. Thanks for having me, Ian
Mast pitting, oxidation/electrolysis Not sure how to fix?
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Scarey
You could get it welded but I would not trust it to hold up my clothes lines. Who knows how many more of those are getting ready to perforate from the inside. A hole like that and being 40 years old. This is a prime example of something to negotiate with. I am sure your surveyor says the same thing. If not, find a good surveyor. This could also be an indicator of overall condition of the boat. I would walk if either the price did not reflect a reduction for a replacement or adjusted down to cover it. Tim R.
You could get it welded but I would not trust it to hold up my clothes lines. Who knows how many more of those are getting ready to perforate from the inside. A hole like that and being 40 years old. This is a prime example of something to negotiate with. I am sure your surveyor says the same thing. If not, find a good surveyor. This could also be an indicator of overall condition of the boat. I would walk if either the price did not reflect a reduction for a replacement or adjusted down to cover it. Tim R.
Run
Tim is right. This may be an indication of the overall condition of the boat. The mast cannot be repaired. If you had to ask this question, i will assume that you are new to sailing/boating. Buy a boat in sailing/motoring condition and sail it the day you own it. In the $4 to $6K price range you should be able to find a similar boat in fairly decent shape with a good motor. Keep on looking. IMHO Tony B
Tim is right. This may be an indication of the overall condition of the boat. The mast cannot be repaired. If you had to ask this question, i will assume that you are new to sailing/boating. Buy a boat in sailing/motoring condition and sail it the day you own it. In the $4 to $6K price range you should be able to find a similar boat in fairly decent shape with a good motor. Keep on looking. IMHO Tony B
Main Sail...
the location of that big hole does not seem to be a problem to me... down low... plenty of good metal around it... sitting in a shoe. Not like there is any stress there... just the weight of the mast and rigging? Im I missing something? Rich
the location of that big hole does not seem to be a problem to me... down low... plenty of good metal around it... sitting in a shoe. Not like there is any stress there... just the weight of the mast and rigging? Im I missing something? Rich
Ian and Rich..
First, I am referring to my picture in post #3 of the Nonsuch mast with the large hole in it. Nonsuch boats use an un-stayed rig and the part of the spar at the deck and below the deck are very, very critical loading areas. Any holes drilled in these masts put the entire spar at risk if they are drilled incorrectly or in the wrong place. The current spar manufacturer would not say that hole was safe or even come close to saying it was and if fact told me, in no certain terms, to walk away from that boat. My point is to show how sensitive a spar can be even with a nicely drilled hole, no jagged edges, in a very thick spar. That spar, other than that hole, was nearly perfect yet the spar manufacturer basically condemned it as a liability waiting to happen. Now a stay-less rig and a stayed rig are quite different but that corrosion is about as bad as I've ever seen on a mast. If I had to take a wild guess I might land on the theory that perhaps there was a frayed mast wire accelerating the corrosion.. I've seen corrosion that bad at a mast base but never in the middle of the spar.. P.S. That mast really looks like it has cancer and I'm somewhat horrified that a "reputable" spar shop told you it would be safe. The area shown in photo #1 looks far larger that what the eye can see if you go by the condition and dis-coloration of the paint around that hole.
First, I am referring to my picture in post #3 of the Nonsuch mast with the large hole in it. Nonsuch boats use an un-stayed rig and the part of the spar at the deck and below the deck are very, very critical loading areas. Any holes drilled in these masts put the entire spar at risk if they are drilled incorrectly or in the wrong place. The current spar manufacturer would not say that hole was safe or even come close to saying it was and if fact told me, in no certain terms, to walk away from that boat. My point is to show how sensitive a spar can be even with a nicely drilled hole, no jagged edges, in a very thick spar. That spar, other than that hole, was nearly perfect yet the spar manufacturer basically condemned it as a liability waiting to happen. Now a stay-less rig and a stayed rig are quite different but that corrosion is about as bad as I've ever seen on a mast. If I had to take a wild guess I might land on the theory that perhaps there was a frayed mast wire accelerating the corrosion.. I've seen corrosion that bad at a mast base but never in the middle of the spar.. P.S. That mast really looks like it has cancer and I'm somewhat horrified that a "reputable" spar shop told you it would be safe. The area shown in photo #1 looks far larger that what the eye can see if you go by the condition and dis-coloration of the paint around that hole.
Got it
Thanks again all. I've made a few calls and found a spar shop close enough to quote me a great price on an extrusion with mast head. I'll work out the rest as time goes by. It is a 2yr project in my mind. Ian
Thanks again all. I've made a few calls and found a spar shop close enough to quote me a great price on an extrusion with mast head. I'll work out the rest as time goes by. It is a 2yr project in my mind. Ian
I thought that it looks like it has been kept outside
under a pile of other junk. Those random spots may have been the result of other metal in contact with the mast. I suppose that the grommets in a tarp could be enough. I thought that I saw some bondo in the picture. As though someone had attempt to patch the spots.
under a pile of other junk. Those random spots may have been the result of other metal in contact with the mast. I suppose that the grommets in a tarp could be enough. I thought that I saw some bondo in the picture. As though someone had attempt to patch the spots.
I could be
That may explain why it seems limited to a small part of the mast. An indifferent metal reaction galvanic, electrochemical. Maybe
That may explain why it seems limited to a small part of the mast. An indifferent metal reaction galvanic, electrochemical. Maybe
Contact Rig-rite
Contact Rig-rite. They are in RI. Ask them for a new mast. They may have the exact piece to replace what you are looking at. This will give you an idea what you should subtract from the asking price. I would bet that the mast would be more that they are asking for the boat. Your other alternative would be to contact a salvage yard and see if they have a unit that could replace the existing one. My thought is that you should look at a vessel without ANY structural problems if you are on a budget.
Contact Rig-rite. They are in RI. Ask them for a new mast. They may have the exact piece to replace what you are looking at. This will give you an idea what you should subtract from the asking price. I would bet that the mast would be more that they are asking for the boat. Your other alternative would be to contact a salvage yard and see if they have a unit that could replace the existing one. My thought is that you should look at a vessel without ANY structural problems if you are on a budget.
By the way
If memory serves me aright, I think Rig Rite is the company that actually ended up with a substantial invenory of original Jensen spar extrusions.
If memory serves me aright, I think Rig Rite is the company that actually ended up with a substantial invenory of original Jensen spar extrusions.
I would not
I would not even think about putting that mast up. You have no way of knowing what other places are weak, or how weak the areas around the holes are. I would suggest that you take a browse through ebay. Every once in a while, there are some rigging parts, including masts on there. Too bad your not on the gulf coast of La. Miss. or Ala. You could probably find one laying around for nearly free.
I would not even think about putting that mast up. You have no way of knowing what other places are weak, or how weak the areas around the holes are. I would suggest that you take a browse through ebay. Every once in a while, there are some rigging parts, including masts on there. Too bad your not on the gulf coast of La. Miss. or Ala. You could probably find one laying around for nearly free.
I happen to also come across
A mast on ebay, http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=31281&viewitem=&item=260211511635&_trksid=p3907.m29 I was looking at 1,500 for a new extrusion But I will call rig-rite. Thanks I've 2 functional boats now and though I am considering price always this is a project boat and free so most likely the mast will cost more, unless... Ian
A mast on ebay, http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=31281&viewitem=&item=260211511635&_trksid=p3907.m29 I was looking at 1,500 for a new extrusion But I will call rig-rite. Thanks I've 2 functional boats now and though I am considering price always this is a project boat and free so most likely the mast will cost more, unless... Ian
Just a little more on this thread. Last night after reading this I
took a piece of aluminum foil and placed it in a glass dish and put a small piece of copper tubing , two steel nails, a brass nut and a piece of solder on it and added a little salted water. 24 hours later the foil is as full of holes as a lace curtain. That corrosion doesn't take long to distroy aluminum.
took a piece of aluminum foil and placed it in a glass dish and put a small piece of copper tubing , two steel nails, a brass nut and a piece of solder on it and added a little salted water. 24 hours later the foil is as full of holes as a lace curtain. That corrosion doesn't take long to distroy aluminum.
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