Vega mast needed

M

marcin_palacz

.
Jan 17, 2005
99
Hi,

Yesterday the mast of my Vega broke.
Reason: top shroud failed.
The mast broke just above the spreaders.
Some pictures are available here:
http://www.slcj.uw.edu.pl/~palacz/Maszt

Now I start to search for a new mast.
Where do you usually buy Vega masts ?
I am in Gdansk, Poland.

I guess a used Vega mast could be good option too,
even if cost of transportation to Gdańsk
is relatively high.

Thanks in advance for any hints.

Marcin
V1958 "Lotta"
 
T

trevy_kins

.
Oct 31, 2019
230
Yikes! Sorry to hear about your mast. Curious - why do you think the
shroud failed? Trevor (V2915)





From: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com [mailto:AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of marcin_palacz
Sent: June 4, 2010 8:39 AM
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [AlbinVega] Vega mast needed





Hi,

Yesterday the mast of my Vega broke.
Reason: top shroud failed.
The mast broke just above the spreaders.
Some pictures are available here:

Now I start to search for a new mast.
Where do you usually buy Vega masts ?
I am in Gdansk, Poland.

I guess a used Vega mast could be good option too,
even if cost of transportation to Gdańsk
is relatively high.

Thanks in advance for any hints.

Marcin
V1958 "Lotta"
 
S

stevebirch2002

.
Nov 8, 2001
1,818
Wow, looks dreadful. Masts are easy to replace but not cheap. I lost my mast but the insurance paid so not a problem. Will the insurance pay for your mast as well?

Cheers

Steve Birch
 
P

pjacobs55

.
Oct 30, 2019
1,459
Marcin,
Yikes! That's not good ... a sight we all never wish to see.
Thanks for taking the pictures, they're a good reminder to the rest of us to check our rig on a regular basis. Even then, things can still go wrong.

It's interesting to note in the last picture that the spreader supports are in one piece, and go right through the mast.

I hope you find a suitable replacement soon.

Peter
#1331 'Sin Tacha'
 
P

pjacobs55

.
Oct 30, 2019
1,459
Just a thought: I've seen quite a few masts on boats in marinas that appear to be joined part way up, showing rows of rivets around the joints. I'm wondering, if you contaced the maker of your mast (Proctor or Seldon?) if they could supply a sleeve to fit inside that could be riveted in, or maybe even some advice as to the viability of a repair. You'd certainly have to remove the spreader brackets, and reinstall them after. But this may be an option for you.

Peter
#1331 'Sin Tacha'
 
Z

zippydoda_captain

.
Oct 30, 2019
58
To add to Peter's comment, I know of two boats with sleeves in the mast. One is a 36 foot McGreagor cat and the other a 23 foot Hunter. Both mask broke about 12 years ago and both boats are still sailing. Rivet the sleeve then have the seam weded, ground smooth, add some paint, presto, you will be back on the water.
Good luck,
Jerry
 
T

tiempo2010

.
Sep 24, 2008
346
There is nothing wrong with a properly sleeved mast. Any mast over 40' in
aluminum is sleeved as the original extrusions are only 40' long.
 
V

vegatern

.
Oct 2, 2005
465
At one time I thought I might need to replace my mast and asked for sources here. Search messages #8225 and #8228 for the replies. As it turned out a local spar builder was able to fix my problem.
Craig Tern #1519
 
M

marcin_palacz

.
Jan 17, 2005
99
Thanks for all the answers to my post.

I am not sure yet if my insurance will cover the costs
- it will take at least a few days to clarify this.

The reason of the accident
was probably very simple: the pin at the connection
of the turnbucle to the deck fitting.
I was sailing for a few hours at one tack,
wind force 6, and the leeward shroud was
rather loose. Then I tacked, and it happened
a few seconds later.
Lesson one: check tension of your shrouds, pins, turnbucles, etc,
daily, at least those which you can access easilly.
I usually do so, in principle.

Trying now to find a replacement mast, I am getting
questions about the maker of the original one.
Anybody nows that?
My Vega is from 1973, type II, V1958.

I was also told that a new mast may be lighter
(smaller profile, i.e. smaller cross section dimensions
- how do you say it in English ?),
because contemporary materials are better.
Any experience with that? Are the strength coefficients
of the original Vega masts known ?

I don't exclude the option of repairing the broken
mast with rivets, etc, but to my taste it is the least
liked possibility, at least for now. Thanks again,

Marcin
V1958 Lotta
 
D

dougpol1

.
Feb 13, 2010
528
I don't know if this is still an option or not since Renolds Metals
in Richmond va sold out to Alcoa or not. They for years had a wide array
of extrusion dies to extrude masts. You could send them a sketch of the
cross section of mast you wanted and the could extrude one. If not they
often had a die that was very close. You could take the hardware off
your mast and put it on the new mast. The price was fairly reasonable
as compared to buying from a retailer.
As to the masts being thinner in cross section these days I emagine
they are lighter because that makes them cheaper. I don't think there
is much difference in the grades of aluminum being made since the 1970's
though there is a huge difference in aluminum since before WWII.
Since most American boats are fat and stiff as barges in the water the
masts for them would likely be a little larger in cross section but may
not be any heavier than a Vega mast as the larger cross section can be
thinner. There are likely a gazillian used masts in florida where so
many hulls have been damaged by hurricanes. Might Look there for a used
workable size.

Doug
 
P

pjacobs55

.
Oct 30, 2019
1,459
Marcin:
My gold-coloured mast is made by Proctor. It has a plate on the front, just above deck level, with the maker and serial number.
I believe the later Vega masts were made by Selden.

Peter
#1331 'Sin Tacha'
 
M

marcin_palacz

.
Jan 17, 2005
99
Hi,

Coming back to my post about broken mast,
I now considering buying a Vega mast,
which is lying close to Gotheborg, Sweden
(while my boat is in Gdansk, Poland).
Transportation of the mast seems to be possible,
at a not-so-high cost.
The mast is from 1969, while my boat is from 1973
(i.e. Vega Type I vs Type II).
I wonder if there are any differences
between masts from these years ?

Both masts look identical, gold-coloured Proctors,
but I only have one picture of the "new" mast,
not very informative in fact.

Should the length of stays and shrouds be the same ?
The seller is also offering a new rigging.

One difference which I already know is that the "new" mast has only
one winch (silver colour) while I have two bronze
winches. Was a setup with one winch original in 1969 Vega's ?

Marcin
V1958 "Lotta"
 
N

n6ric

.
Mar 19, 2010
208
I would be interested in knowing the ranges for the series 1, 2, and 3 also. Is it by year or hull number?
Ric
s/v Blue Max
#2692
 
S

stevebirch2002

.
Nov 8, 2001
1,818
Hi Ric

I think I have posted this before on the group but as a quick (and rough) guide

0001 - 1375 - Series I Albin 021 or 022 Petrol Engine. Narrow coamings, large porthole for the compass in the companionway, gold mast, moveable mast track. Different keel internals, different engine beds, slight cockpit differences. Exhaust outlet on transom centre.

1380 - 3050 - Series II MD6A (Later ones with MD6B - starter motor version) Volvo Diesel engine. Narrow cockpit coaming, neater cockpit. Exhaust outlet on transom starboard. Slightly different internal cupboards. Later ones (2500 on) have silver masts, earlier have gold masts.

3060 - 3450 - Series III MD7A Volvo Diesel engine. Wide cockpit coamings, anti-slip ares much more pronounced. Silver mast. Sealed mast step, re-inforced mast step support beam. Slight internal variations.

These numbers are just a guide. I have seen exceptions that prove the fact!!

Cheers

Steve B
 
P

pelagicasd

.
Jan 28, 2001
694
Lyric #120 was laid up in 1967 and commisioned in 1968. The mast was by Proctor and had a riveted track and geared gooseneck. We bought a Series 2 as salvage and swapped masts for another Proctor with the roller furling boom handle through the mast. The track was an extrusion and as I recall the mast was about a foot taller. Hope this helps. Walt
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
From: n6ric@...
Date: Mon, 12 Jul 2010 04:36:53 +0000
Subject: [AlbinVega] Re: Vega mast needed


I would be interested in knowing the ranges for the series 1, 2, and 3 also. Is it by year or hull number?
Ric
s/v Blue Max
#2692
 
S

schult.cindy

.
Oct 30, 2019
34
Hi,

Check the files for one named "Fair_Winds_14 (2).pdf"

It has a great explaination of how to raise and lower the mast on a Vega using the boom, a bridle.

Good Luck
 
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