Advice for bent mast

[gatorzip02]

Well, I've finally gone and broke something big on my boat. I was out yesterday enjoying full sun, low 80's temps, a 12 knot breeze and a frosty beer when I decided to come about to start my trip back home to the marina. Just as I rounded out and the sails caught a gust of wind, I heard a loud pop and the entire mast heaved over to the starboard side of the boat. One of the pins at the base of the inside port stay had somehow popped off (I guess the stupid ring-ding worked its way out somehow) and the mast kicked way over, digging itself hard into the fiberglass at the base and bending about ten degrees at the spreaders. See pic:



So, I fumbled around and got the sails down (this kind of thing never happens when you have a crew ), then limp back to the marina under power with my mast flopping all over the place like a rag doll. At the marina, I got the mast down and inspected the damage. There is a good chunk of the fiberglass knocked out at the base of the mast:



There is also a nice permanent bend in the mast:



So now I need to know what I need to do to recover from this fiasco. I was originally thinking that I would have to replace the mast, but a fellow sailor at the marina thinks that I could bend the mast back and either weld or rivet metal strips on either side of the mast to help strengthen it. I looked carefully at the point of the bend on the mast and I can feel a very slight bulge in the aluminum. There are also what I think may be some very faint "stress marks" at the bend point (not sure).
So my first question to the forum gurus is, can this mast be straightened without any significant loss of structural integrity? Second, what is my best option to repair the fiberglass chunk dug out at the base of the mast? I was thinking I could just have a metal plate made with four holes to fit underneath the two mast brackets and cover the dagger board hole. This way, the mast would be resting on metal and not fiberglass. Does anybody see any problems with this solution? Is there a better way?

I would greatly appreciate any sage advise. In the future, I’m definitely going to be checking my rigging thoroughly before going out each time. I imagine that ring-ding had been working itself out bit by bit for a while. Live and learn! Thanks in advance!

Joel

[restless]

Ouch! Bummer.
re mast repairs... the favoured approach is to use rivets. In fact most selden masts have riveted sections in them.. just have a wander down the marina. You'll get the idea.
You could try beating the bulge and seeing how it responds to a rubber mallet... lay the mast on the bend, but make sure you support the underside well. start with small taps rather than mega wallops. you may get a result.
I would say the best thing to do is post a 'wanted- 1ft M mast' on this forum. cut your bulge out and rivet the piece in using internal plates. Look at the seldens for layouts. I've repaired a mast like this before (on a larger boat) and it worked fine. If you need more details ask. not aas scary a job as you may imagine.
good luck

[Terry]

I think your mast is toast myself, looks as bad as the kink I put in mine when I was in the driveway hoisting it. I up and bought another one rather than try any DIY fix-it, I think you are looking at upwards of $600.00 or more, plus the work of moving all the hardware from one mast to the next. Yes it is a bummer, but it happens, and good that you posted it here because there are those on this board who claim that mast failures don't happen because they did not read about it here.
The fiberglass repair is doable so not to worry, but that is just a scratch compared to the mast damage. You can try straightening it or some other form of repair but I doubt you'll be happy with it in the end. Your nearest dealer can order a factory one for you.
Oh, I still have my kinked one along side the house if anyone is interested.

[Phillip]

Why don't you contact a business who specialize in masts and spars.

(I had a particular 'item' someone sat on, when it was in the horizontal position, creating quite a nice curve I could have done without. The above type business just ran it thru their rollers - well that is what they told me - anyway it was delivered back to me as straight as an arrow - and when I asked him about 'bends' he told me, "you wouldn't believe what we get thru here!").

Cheers
Phillip

[Retcoastie]

I had a bent mast. It might not have been quite as abrupt as yours. Anyway, I put it in the fork of an old apple tree with some padding at the right spots, and using a come-a-long from another apple tree I slowly bend it back straight. I was amazed how well it turned out. Now it hangs in the barn loft awaiting my next fuba.

I had taken the mast to a mast building/repair place in Detroit. they would not fool with it. It may have been too small for their machines or just was not worth the price they would have had to charge. Call round and see if you can find a place like Phillip did. If so they can tell you if it is repairable.

Before the $600 option, you should try the apple tree fix. Again, my bend looked more gradual than yours. You just have to decide if you think the mast has been weaken too much after it has been straightened.

[Paul S]

Contact the factory or havencraft. Maybe they could piggyback a mast on another boat being delivered. I can't believe they haven't run into this before..

Or call some local boat yards to see who they use for masts and have one made

[Crikey]

Wouldn't an application of heat in the area of the bend, at the application of the 'cherry tree' fix help with the unbending? I would only do this, however, if I came up negative with a third party fix based on cost or guarantees. Aluminum likes to stress crack when too much force is used in either event.

[FLembo18]

Joel, what a total bummer. I'd go for the factory replacement like one of the other guys mentioned... well it's a given that ALL the guys who read this post will be double checking their ring dings & rigging real good from now on...I wish there was a better, safer replacement for those damn ring dings ! I never liked them especially for the forestay and everything else. Do you think that maybe your Boat Insurance policy might cover the damage ? Best of luck with your situation !

Frank L.