Welding on a mast.

[Bill Leathen]

Somehow, the top sheave in my mast on my Hunter 23 wing keel boat pulled downward and tore out the pop rivet holes. I have removed the sheave and plan to have the area where the pop rivets welded back so that there is some metal and re-drill the holes. My question is what weld alloy should be used to weld the holes. Can I assume the mast is made with alloy 6061 aluminum. Will weld rod alloy 4000 or 3003 be acceptable for the weld? Any advise will be helpful.Thanks Bill Leathen - bleathen@aol.com

 

[Jim Willis]

Could use larger holes and stainless rivets

I onece had a reefing padeye pulled out of the boom. Apparently stainless rivets should have been used and were not.The rigger at Ala Wai Marine juset used oversized rivets (stainless) but also bedded the padeye with 5200.No problem since. Welding might cause all sorts of heat stress.Still just my opinion!ThanksJW