Rich,
Wow, that second photo IS pretty scary. But another thought for you to consider ... it's actually not uncommon for masts to be cut on both sides of a bend, then sleeved internally & bolted back together. It would be lots easier than re-fitting the entire mast, and only a tenth the cost of replacing the complete spar.
Since your bend is right at the spreaders, a sleeve would add valuable reinforcing right where the mast requires HOLES. Not sure what the 26M mast section looks like, but any spar shop would tell you if they have something matching your ID section.
Hi:
I am the guy who lost two masts. Hence the name D'Master. A pretty
blue M also lost a mast while at mooring in our bouy field at Zephyr
Cove, Lake Tahoe. I would replace the bent mast as that is where
both of mine broke leaving the bottom half standing. With genny and
main in the water you will not be able to lift it back aboard unless you
have bolt cutters. When she goes you better be in a place where you
can motor to a beach.
Hmmm .. Thanks for chiming-in, Paul. That's the same place another owner reported snapping her mast when heelilng too close as they were passing a buoy. She wrote of catching a shroud on the buoy, and watching the mast snap-clean, right at the spreaders. (She sold the boat shortly thereafter).
It's no surprise the mast tends to snap right at the spreaders. That's where the spreaders are applying forward pressure, and that's exactly where the mast has been drilled to mount the spreaders.
Add some whipping & shock forces by waves at a mooring, plus maybe combine those factors with a little bit of galvanic corrosion ...stainless screws thru the aluminum ...
Voila! just like peanut brittle!
All of which speculation supports the idea that a one-foot long, internal reinforcing sleeve - were that extrusion easily available - is a pretty good idea.
Why do we work? So we can fix our problems with money! For peace of mind, replacement is the only option. You don't want to be fixated on your bent mast when heeled over on a strong beam reach.
Rolf
Replace mast. Ok, so now the question is do I go with a standard Mac Mast, which I was quoted at $700 from Immon Yachts for the Mast only or $1000 installed and rigged. Or do I go with someone like Stephen found and buy a new mast and rig it myself? Or have it professionally rigged and still maybe less than the $1000?
List price for the complete 26M mast is $752.
Disconnect the shrouds, remove the spreader tubes, etc. from the damaged mast.
Remove the damaged mast from the boat.
Put the new mast on the boat. Hook everything back up. I've done it in less than an hour.
If the M mast is like the X, you'll also be drilling out the rivets that hold the steaming light bracket on, removing the plug from the wire, and pulling it out of the old mast.
This is an ideal opportunity to run extra wire for an anchor light as well as the steaming light, maybe a foredeck or spreader lights, as well as go ahead and run some cable for a VHF antenna up top. You'll need a multiconductor power plug and receptacle on the deck though.
$752 is for the complete mast with light, main halyard block, spreader bracket, etc. already installed.
$450 for the bare mast extrusion.
$465 for the extrusion with spread.
$480 for drilled and spread.
Bill at BOATS 4 SAIL wrote:$752 is for the complete mast with light, main halyard block, spreader bracket, etc. already installed.
$450 for the bare mast extrusion.
$465 for the extrusion with spread.
$480 for drilled and spread.
Thanks a million Bill! Looking at that, I think I will just go with a bare mast extrusion and strip everything else off my current mast. It should be easy enough to drill and reinstall with my current mast as a template! I guess I will throw in a stay tension guage while I am at it.
I still think this would make a great "project" for all my friends down at MDR and I will supply the beer!
