Bent Mast Repair

[Fiveslide]

Originally Posted by Sand crab

There are some misconceptions about welding masts. In fact it is done all the time. Basically you sleeve it and spot weld it in um spots. You do want a competent experienced welder. There are a couple of threads way back on this including one I started but I'm too lazy to search for you.

I would have done a repair like this, but due to the internal jib halyard sheave I couldn't get very much sleeve in the mast, only about 5", which seemed inadequate. And I couldn't find a matching section so it would have shortened the mast by about 14". I don't know if the main would have been usable after that and I didnt want to alter the main or lower the boom.

So I been shopping for something that will fit. Shipping is what is going to drive the price up. I don't live on the coast anymore so no big selection of used stuff. The boat shops around here look at sailors like they have three heads or something. If it ain't a fishing boat or a wakeboard boat they can't fix it.

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[rognvald]

Replace.

[Fiveslide]

Originally Posted by rognvald

Replace.

Agreed.

I've begun ebay bidding on a rig that will fit nicely. Much better and much closer than the one I was considering from Florida.

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[DefinitelyMe]

Originally Posted by Fiveslide

You must not have read the entire thread. My attempt to straighten the mast ended in the aluminum splitting. Other posters clearly stated that it would, and I kinda knew it would. I didn't apply heat, perhaps that is where I went wrong. I had nothing to lose trying so I went for it and it ended poorly.

I've found a mast I may buy in Fl but I'm still shopping locally to see what comes up.

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Yea I did read that. I just can't really think of a better option, so I think i'll try it again and hope I get more lucky than you!

On second thoughts, maybe i'll forgo the insert and just strap, heat and then tap with a big bit of wood.............. it's a lot of work building one. I'll let you know how it goes once I get round to it!

Cheers

[Fiveslide]

Originally Posted by DefinitelyMe

Yea I did read that. I just can't really think of a better option, so I think i'll try it again and hope I get more lucky than you!

On second thoughts, maybe i'll forgo the insert and just strap, heat and then tap with a big bit of wood.............. it's a lot of work building one. I'll let you know how it goes once I get round to it!

Cheers

If it doesn't work be sure to post your mast's dimensions so Happy can promise to help shop for another, yet forget about you entirely! Just kidding, Happy.

Is your mast dented or creased? That is where I had my problem, in the dent in my mast. If it is just bowed you may have better luck.

Good luck and keep us updated.

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[Fiveslide]

Update: I was victious in my ebay auction and payment has been submitted via paypal. It is a short 4 hour drive away.

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[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by Fiveslide

If it doesn't work be sure to post your mast's dimensions so Happy can promise to help shop for another, yet forget about you entirely! Just kidding, Happy.

Is your mast dented or creased? That is where I had my problem, in the dent in my mast. If it is just bowed you may have better luck.

Good luck and keep us updated.

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Oh man... You can't count on this Happy character AT ALL....
Well... don't be too disappointed... I've dropped bigger balls than this...

Of course ... you didn't even bother to OFFER help with my predicament...

Originally Posted by Fiveslide

Update: I was victious in my ebay auction and payment has been submitted via paypal. It is a short 4 hour drive away.

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You may have been victious.... (wasn't he in the sex pistols?) BUT... Were you victorious??? I just called the guy and offered him an extra $100 so I could say...

I FOUND ONE FOR YA MAN!!!

(glad ya found one... sorry for being a crappy buddy... In my defense... I DID take about 4 hours outta my day couple weeks ago to look at a boat for somebody else... they fly out to inspect in a couple days...)

I owe ya one HappyCredit with the following parameters:
1. No marine sanitation
2. No bottom work
3. Beverages must be provided...

[Fiveslide]

Originally Posted by HappyMdRSailor

Oh man... You can't count on this Happy character AT ALL....
Well... don't be too disappointed... I've dropped bigger balls than this...

Of course ... you didn't even bother to OFFER help with my predicament...



You may have been victious.... (wasn't he in the sex pistols?) BUT... Were you victorious??? I just called the guy and offered him an extra $100 so I could say...

I FOUND ONE FOR YA MAN!!!

(glad ya found one... sorry for being a crappy buddy... In my defense... I DID take about 4 hours outta my day couple weeks ago to look at a boat for somebody else... they fly out to inspect in a couple days...)

I owe ya one HappyCredit with the following parameters:
1. No marine sanitation
2. No bottom work
3. Beverages must be provided...

LOL! I looked for a 72' mast. I'm confident there is not one on ebay, craigslist of any city within 400 miles of my home or Bull's Marine Salvage over on Pino road.

I forgot to offer, rather than forgot to look.

Guess what I paid... just guess.








$50!

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[Nicholson58]

The yard where we store our boat has racks of salvaged masts. You might find one at Torresons in Muskegon Michigan. (or other yard)

If you try to straighten, you will likely loose a significant length that cannot be made straight. It is possible to sleeve internally and weld or bolt. The problem as you noted is that the bent part is un-stayed & therefore highly stressed at the weak spot. My thought is replace the mast as the best option.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by Fiveslide

LOL! I looked for a 72' mast. I'm confident there is not one on ebay, craigslist of any city within 400 miles of my home or Bull's Marine Salvage over on Pino road.

I forgot to offer, rather than forgot to look.

Guess what I paid... just guess.

$50!

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Fair enough... Forgetting to tell isn't as bad as not trying...

Holy crap! These are the deals that show up with patience.... I'll bet you have more than $50 in electricity charging your phone/tab/puter just responding to this thread....

[Fiveslide]

Originally Posted by HappyMdRSailor

Fair enough... Forgetting to tell isn't as bad as not trying...

Holy crap! These are the deals that show up with patience.... I'll bet you have more than $50 in electricity charging your phone/tab/puter just responding to this thread....

Indeed, the closest comparison the folks out of Florida had was going to be around $600, shipped to my office, just for the mast and masthead. Thank goodness those folks are so slow or I might have spent that with them.

Anything new was going to $600 plus the masthead, which I never priced, plus shipping, which I also never priced.

Instead I spent $50 on a complete rig off an old rotten Cal 20 that should fit, so long as the seller measured it right. I drive to get it next week.

I will continue to look for you. I shop for boats and parts in my downtime anyway.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by Fiveslide

Indeed, the closest comparison the folks out of Florida had was going to be around $600, shipped to my office, just for the mast and masthead. Thank goodness those folks are so slow or I might have spent that with them.

Anything new was going to $600 plus the masthead, which I never priced, plus shipping, which I also never priced.

Instead I spent $50 on a complete rig off an old rotten Cal 20 that should fit, so long as the seller measured it right. I drive to get it next week.

I will continue to look for you. I shop for boats and parts in my downtime anyway.

Well... For $50... I would make this thing work regardless of extra fitting efforts!

Keep us rolling along here with the progress... Fun to watch to be sure...

[Fiveslide]

I took possesion of my new mast today and made the sketchy, possibly dangerous, most likely illegal 4.5 hour drive back with a 26' long piece of metal strapped to my suv.

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[Fiveslide]

Update... Upon closer comparison, I'm concerned with the weight of the new mast. It is much heavier, in its current state(loaded with hardware, shrouds, spreaders, cleats and all that), than my bent one. It is the same width, 1.25 inches larger in the depth measurement and 4 feet longer.

I'm hoping to strip all the unnecessary hardware off this weekend, much of it will not be needed for my boat, and compare the weights again. I'm hoping it lightens up considerably. I knew it would be heavier, but not that much heavier.

If not, I'll be shopping for a mast, again. And possibly a mastless boat to go with the rig I just bought, or, reluctantly, selling the rig.

[zeehag]

if you kept old mast., just sleeve it. that works. use a decent welder.