Mast repairing

[velero912]

What is the best way to repair a broken mast. Mine broke where the 2 SS tubes that hold the mast when lowering it for trailering. I already weleded it, but I would like to reinforce it.
Thanks.

 

[Steve Dion]

Call your insurance company. This is why you have insurance. They can make the determination if it is repairable or replaceable.

 

[Benny17441]

What was the cause of the break? Since it broke where the support tubes are attached I would suspect it was caused by dissimilar metals corrosion in which case the area all around should be checked. The way to reinforce it would be to rivet plates on both sides of the mast covering the hole or crack. I suggest both sides because of the attachment points of the tubes. The plates can be drilled to accommodate a bolt going through. If it was a larger breakage then I would consider removing the damaged area and joining the two pieces with a mast insert. Don't know about La Parguera but in Fajardo there are a couple of Marina Shops that could do a professional repair for you. Should you have insurance, by all means contact them as Steve suggests. I know boat insurance is not mandatory in PR and not even customary in smaller boats.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

Masts can be spliced, if properly done, but the splice is inside the mast extrusion and so that means you need to have a mast long enough to accommodate your sails and rigging. If you broke your mast, I would assume that the bad area have to be cut out, which means your mast would be too short.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

The best advice for a broken H 260 mast is to replace it. It is an aluminum estrusion and the forces exerted on it are quite a bit. Once broken, the integrity is gone. Suggest getting a new one. I speak from experience as one who was very much involved with this boat from the inception to include mast, as a dealer, as a former claims adjuster/investigator, repairs and so forth. This is one thing I would never repair once the integrity of the extrusion was damaged. I replaced too many from being repaired as well and thank God no one was ever hurt.

I have seen welds break. Also if trying to put a sleeve inside or outside of the masts, then a special sleeve would have to be made to fit that mast extrusion for example Selden Masts. In this case there were never any sleeves made for the h 260 masts as I know that to be a fact. Anything else, the mast will break as I have seen that too.

crazy dave condon

 

[My Time]

Dave, I had sent you a private email a little while ago about mast repair, before reading this! I guess that answers my question.

Thanks

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

I repsonded to My Time advising where to get the mast from and ways to ship less expensive. The mast integrity was jeopardized and I advised him to replace. Even Hunter Marine advised the same thing.

Crazy Dave Condon