Dismasted at sea in the Bahamas, now what

[Island Time O25]

Originally Posted by SV_Lusca

I had a new forestay with harken furler installed in Oriental NC. At the same time I had the rigger adjust everything. I have the impression that something let go at the top. The mast was broken in half but no idea of it was caused by the impact with the water.

You mentioned the insurance company declining to cover a 20 year old mast. But what about the new furler and forestay?

Also I would get at least a counsult or two from a reputable product liability attorney in NC. Seems like the new install and your demasting are suspiciously close in time. Could be defective Harken furler or forestay, could be incorrect install or what not.

[Time2Go]

Just spent a month in the Bahamas.
Many many boats got destroyed by Dorian a few years ago.
I believe it was on Abaco where we saw a rather large salvage yard.
I’d let your fingers do the dialing, might get lucky
Cheers

[SV_Lusca]

I don’t want to blame the rigger, guess it would be hard to prove, but we will have more talks with the insurance.

[SV_Lusca]

Herr are some pictures

[smj]

Originally Posted by Island Time O25

You mentioned the insurance company declining to cover a 20 year old mast. But what about the new furler and forestay?



Also I would get at least a counsult or two from a reputable product liability attorney in NC. Seems like the new install and your demasting are suspiciously close in time. Could be defective Harken furler or forestay, could be incorrect install or what not.

Considering the mast is at the bottom of the ocean how would he prove that?

[smj]

Originally Posted by SV_Lusca

Thanks for all your support and suggestions. Most seems to suggest to head back to FL. Our insurance just told us that the mast isn’t covered because it is over 20 years old. We will be looking for used parts, wonder if the French islands would have any?

Dave
SV Lusca

Don’t take your insurance company at their word, read your policy and do some research.

[SV_Lusca]

At least the paddle board got some use, it absorbed most of the shock

[team karst]

200 nm to Puerta Plata. Certainly worth a call.

[hpeer]

Because you mentioned “French Islands”….

FKG in St Martin is excellent.

Call or email them. Lee runs the rigging shop I believe. They handle everything from old small cruisers to mega yachts.

I would solicit his advice before making any moves. I don’t know that he can help you, but he may well know of some resource that can.

At least you are in a very safe anchorage, even if there is almost nothing around. I would be hesitant to leave there until I had some firm plan.

This below may be of little help but I will throw it out anyway.

Four Star Cargo is a freight forwarder in Miami. They ship daily tk St Martin and I have used them to Grenada. They may or may not have other Caribbean/Bahamian shipping resources. They were helpful, relatively inexpensive, and responsive.

ADDRESS
7640 NW 63rd Street,
Miami FL 33195

PHONE
Phone (305) 717-6200
Fax (305) 477-0790

[MicHughV]

I believe the Bennie 36 cc was built in Marion, South Carolina...I know they closed shop recently, but are likely to have some parts laying around.

As another poster suggested, after Hurricane Dorian flattened the Abaco's, you are likely to find masts a-plenty there. Might have to modify here and there. Marsh Harbor is the place to look there. Not to far from where you are now.

Finally, there is a well known salvage yard in Ft. Lauderdale called "Sailorman" where you will find oodles of used masts. Going up the coast to St. Augustine, you'll find, another salvage yard "Sailor's Exchange" with oodles of masts.

Elsewhere, you have the Indian River Marina near Stuart, also a place to find masts.

Miami, Ft. Lauderdale have several other salvage yards, but I don't know the names of them all.

Puerto Rico and DR may also have salvage yards, but I'm not sure. PR is the more likely of the two places, but I can't say for sure. I'm quite familiar with PR, and they have plenty of yards there.

My recommendation remains the same. With the wind at your back, making the Abaco's or Florida should pose no problem.

[Stu Jackson]

Sorry for both of your losses.


Keel stepped or deck stepped mast?


Reason I ask in the other lost m y mast thread there was this:


C) Measure Mast Step: To aid in ruling candidate masts out early in the process, I made a tracing of my boat's mast step. That allowed me to rule out false candidates quickly.


Best of luck to you.

[SV_Lusca]

Our boat is French made, dont think they built center cockpits
In the US

[SV_Lusca]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

Sorry for both of your losses.


Keel stepped or deck stepped mast?


Reason I ask in the other lost m y mast thread there was this:


C) Measure Mast Step: To aid in ruling candidate masts out early in the process, I made a tracing of my boat's mast step. That allowed me to rule out false candidates quickly.


Best of luck to you.

Step Decked

[Fore and Aft]

SV_Lusca sorry to hear about your misfortune. A quick google didn't show any masts for sale online in the Bahamas? There must be some around and I reckon a visit to the local boatyards could be worth the while. What is the length of your mast?
A quick look online shows there are a few around Florida if you head back there. Both are probably to short but you get the idea of what can be found.
Cheers
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...8-78a681af5b69
https://spacecoast.craigslist.org/bp...444868728.html

[Fore and Aft]

Lusca I like this one, I suppose one thing is if you motor back to Florida I imagine there is a lot more riggers and rigging suppliers available?
Cheers

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...8-78a681af5b69