Photos of the Bent Mast...For the strong of heart only!

James V · Post by **James V** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 7:38 am

kmclemore - it is more flexing than bending. You just put a bit in, slowly turn it and find where you need to push it to straighten it out, place the bit on a hard surface and hold firm the handle. Push off and on where the bit goes in and it will soon enough bend back. It works, but is easily overdone.
The same can be done with a mast. I have done it. Just support the mast on both ends, Have the high part up and repeatly pull down, not steady. Just up and down, beyond the straight point. In a few min. you will no longer have the SAME bend. If you over do it, turn the mast over and start over. (yes, I've done this to)

LOUIS B HOLUB · Post by **LOUIS B HOLUB** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 9:29 am

When one looks closely at most MASTs and see how "FLIMZY" , its easy to recognise the IMPORTANCE of "Sound" "Secure" STAYS...nicely tuned. A small BEND restraightened would seem to pose no SAFETY ISSUE...if the RIGGING is TUNED CORRECTLY.....INCIDENTLY...I've seen some MACs at my MARINA with "INTENTIONAL" BENDs due to poor TUNING...The CAPTAINs "sail" on with riggin' so tightly tuned that it PLUNKS like a GUITAR STRING...Happy Sailing !

mssydnie · Post by **mssydnie** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 11:39 am

Think I try it myself. Bend appears to be above the spreaders and lower shrouds. I don't think castrophic failure would occur after straightening...at least with regard to the mast snapping at deck level and causing a total wreck. Straighten it and use it to see what happens. Who knows...might last forever!

mssydnie · Post by **mssydnie** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 11:40 am

Think I try it myself. Bend appears to be above the spreaders and lower shrouds. I don't think castrophic failure would occur after straightening...at least with regard to the mast snapping at deck level and causing a total wreck. Straighten it and use it to see what happens. Who knows...might last forever!

aya16 · Post by **aya16** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 2:50 pm

Bring it down to MDR rich we will do her straight. come along a couple beers and if we screw up its only 500 bucks right down the street.
I think it would be fine after we bend it back take our time do it slow and a little at a time and we can do it. Put a little strain on it release it check it with a straight edge then put some more strain on it til lts straight.

The only problem I have with not getting it straight before you use it to much is the bend is already there and I think if you dont bend it back it will get worse. over time may not fail but will keep bending from the stress of the wind.

aya16 · Post by **aya16** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 2:57 pm

I wonder how many masts get bent at the factory from falling off the pallet
or being droped. or hitting something towing the boat out in the yard.I bet they dont throw them away.

Look at the mac video I think they show that they make their own masts
and I bet they can put yours in the jig and have it good as new for free.
or a side note we can drop it on the other side and see if it bends back...just kidding dont try this at home.

baldbaby2000 · Post by **baldbaby2000** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 5:02 pm

I had a Mac 25 with a mast with a much worse bend and had it straightened. An auto body guy put it between appropriately spaced trees and bent it back with very good results. Or see how it sails as is and decide.

BB

Don T · Post by **Don T** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 7:09 pm

Hello:
I straightened a bend in a friend of mine's mast (Ranger 20). He has a tree in the front yard that has a crotch at waist level. We put it through and worked it a little at a time. I had to straighten the luff groove because it had bucked some but it looked and worked great. It can be done the old fashioned way too.

Dimitri-2000X-Tampa · Post by **Dimitri-2000X-Tampa** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 6:13 am

Rich, have you loosened all the shrouds completely since you noticed this bend?

I have to admit, that I once mis-adjusted one of my lower shrouds and got an awful looking bend in my mast. It was so pronounced, I thought it must certainly be permanent...but that would turn out to be an incorrect assumption. I loosened all the shrouds completely and the big bend went away, it was pretty amazing actually. Perhaps this won't apply to you and the M mast is bigger than the X mast, but its certainly worth a try if you haven't done so yet.

Oh yea, another time, I had my mast in the partially down position and hit a telephone pole with the end of it while turning out of a narrow boat ramp. Bent the mast support crutch all to hull, but the mast just bounced back and is still straight...pretty flexible little buggers.

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 12:15 pm

I'd try to straighten it, failing that I'd buy an extrusion and tap my own holes

http://www.dwyermast.com/

http://www.mfgquote.com/profiles/Hollow ... tates.html

http://www.lefiell.com/cruisemast.html

http://www.everythingmarine.co.nz/marin ... llr302.htm

Or go carbon fiber

http://www.soverel33.com/Quicklinks/Spars/Links.html

Post by **kmclemore** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 12:52 pm

Although Dwyer was the original supplier (see link above), if I had to buy another set I'd get'em from Kenyon Spars. The best you can buy, IMHO and not all that much more expensive that others.

Morimaro · Post by **Morimaro** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 9:46 am

This bend! was caused by a weakedned inner stay breaking whislt hullababllo was on her mooring in the Solent during a Summer Force 8+ gale last year.

Bends anywhere on the mast or standing rigging can come and bite you anytime given testing conditions

The mast and standing rigging was relaced and has been fine all this last season.

richandlori · Post by **richandlori** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:53 pm

YOU HAD TO SHOW ME THAT PHOTO DIDN'T YOU! I think in the end, I will replace the mast, I just need to go through the mourning process first where I lose sleep, worry, rationalize and fret, before I get to the point of blowing $1000. I guess I could get the mast and and have my new buddies down at MDR help me rig the mast which would save me a few hundred $, maybe I can trade their help for a BBQ?

I am just worried about any weakening or extra stress that may now be placed on some part of the boat. It reminds me of when a major league picher hurts his elbow...then when he overcompensates, he hurts his shoulder, then his back, then he knee and then boom...he is a washed-up.

That stress and strain of the rigging HAS to go somewhere..right? With my most important possessions riding along in the boat a mast crashing down and hurting them just doesn't ballance out against the $.

richandlori · Post by **richandlori** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 1:40 pm

These are two photos I took todaynow you can see clearly the bend to port by the top of the mast right at the spreaders and it is significant!

Frank C · Post by **Frank C** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 1:44 pm

Morimaro wrote:This bend! was caused by a weakedned inner stay breaking whislt hullababllo was on her mooring

Morris,
Strangely enough, an owner here once reported that he'd lost TWO masts while his 26X was moored on Lake Tahoe.

Seems that moored boats are in motion constantly, so the least little bit of slack in the standing rig causes repeated shock loading. After reading of his problems ... now yours too ... I'm glad to be using the trailer. Otherwise, think I'd try to find a slip.

MacGregorSailors.com

MacGregorSailors.com

Photos of the Bent Mast...For the strong of heart only!