Mast stress cracks

[Mountainsailing]

I am getting ready to replace my standing rigging, and I found some stress cracks around the upper stemball terminals while inspecting. The terminals are also missing the rivets... Anybody have experience with this? The rigger is telling me November before he can take a look... I'm wondering what the repair options are. Attached are a couple pics.

[JPA Cate]

Sister the mast section. Talk to a rigger about it, someone in your area who is recommended by a knowledgeable sailor.

Ann

[Celestialsailor]

I also remember those damn T-tangs that use to key into the mast. If you look at a "normal" tang, the load is stretched over 6-10"s with multiple fasteners. Also on a Mono hull, the hull rolls away when wind hits the sails reducing loads. A cat resists that wind and builds forces throughout the rigging. This makes it especially important to reinforce stay areas with either doubler plates or single/double mast stay tangs with multiple fasteners.

[Pauls]

I second the above. In addition, cracks must be stop drilled, meaning a small diameter hole is drilled at the end of the crack. If this is not done the crack will continue to propogate. Bear in mind that stress in the area of the crack will be tripled around the hole. So sistering/doublers are very important.

[Manateeman]

We would remove the stainless fitting and the paint near the opening and then check the interior of the spar as well as the exterior. Usually one finds cracks on the lower side or bulging.
We don’t think drilling is going to help.
Is the rig way too tight ? Something is wrong here but it’s difficult to say exactly what to do to cure it or to prevent a spar failure.
Any info from sister ships...owners groups...the spar builder?
M.