Is my mast ruined?

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

If the mast section is damaged, I believe you could also scab patch it.
Be ugly though.

A good welder could probably make it not to ugly.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by Cadence

A good welder could probably make it not to ugly.

Being an airplane guy, I tend to think rivets.
I’d be careful welding unless I knew what the heat threat level was.
Are masts often welded?

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Being an airplane guy, I tend to think rivets.
I’d be careful welding unless I knew what the heat threat level was.
Are masts often welded?

Maybe not being aluminum. I guess I was not thinking. I have seen the work of good welders on materials i was told are not weldable. I'm so good if steel sticks together after the use of a chipping hammer it's excellent by my standards. I think it was an aluminum casting that a nice old retired guy welded for me. This welder was in his garage and damn near as big as my house reefer. His selection of rods were in what looked like a dehumidified vault. Retired from the Navy Yard and probably bought the equipment at auction from the navy.

[MartinR]

Internal sleeves are normally riveted. Standard method for mast repair, but it may be hard to find/make a sleeve that fits.

But masts are also welded, for example if you cone a mast top, that is normally welded together. Of course, there is little load across the weld in this case.

[mogulskibum]

So, some of the thoughts and ideas expressed so far are interesting and useful, but I'm left thinking I need a real right to inspect in person.

I called and emailed one on Friday morning, it's now Monday evening and I've gotten zero response.

I called and emailed another on Saturday morning, and again no response.

I called and emailed a third early this morning, same result as the other two.

Can anyone recommend a rigger in the Annapolis area that will actually return a call or email?

[Scout 30]

Originally Posted by mogulskibum

So, some of the thoughts and ideas expressed so far are interesting and useful, but I'm left thinking I need a real right to inspect in person.

I called and emailed one on Friday morning, it's now Monday evening and I've gotten zero response.

I called and emailed another on Saturday morning, and again no response.

I called and emailed a third early this morning, same result as the other two.

Can anyone recommend a rigger in the Annapolis area that will actually return a call or email?

Instead of a rigger I'd want to talk to a company that builds & repairs masts.

[JPA Cate]

Originally Posted by Scout 30

Instead of a rigger I'd want to talk to a company that builds & repairs masts.

I think Scout30 has a good point here. If you consult with a spar builder, they are likely to employ not only a rigger or two, but also an engineer, all of whom may have input into what you will hear. At least that's the way it was, after our first Insatiable was dismasted.

Ann

[mogulskibum]

Originally Posted by Scout 30

Instead of a rigger I'd want to talk to a company that builds & repairs masts.

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

I think Scout30 has a good point here. If you consult with a spar builder, they are likely to employ not only a rigger or two, but also an engineer, all of whom may have input into what you will hear. At least that's the way it was, after our first Insatiable was dismasted.

Ann

I agree, which is why the first and third company I contacted install and repair spars. Given that my boat is literally across the river (about 500 yards) from the third one, I sort of expected a fairly prompt reply. Instead crickets.

I wouldn't be nearly as frustrated if just one of them would spend 5 seconds typing "we're swamped and won't be able to look at your mast till June," instead of ignoring the phone and email.

[Don C L]

send the pictures to Ballenger Spars. I often recommend them because I had such good service and info from them, great folks:
ballenger spars home page

[JPA Cate]

Mate, if you're only 500 yards away, go over there and talk to them; if they're not there, leave a handwritten note. There are so many ways messages can get lost, don't sweat it or make conclusions too fast. Just keep after it vigorously.

Ann

[mogulskibum]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Mate, if you're only 500 yards away, go over there and talk to them; if they're not there, leave a handwritten note. There are so many ways messages can get lost, don't sweat it or make conclusions too fast. Just keep after it vigorously.

Ann

They're 500 yards from my boat, which is about 28 miles away from me.

Next time I'm there, I'm taking the dinghy over to talk to them. Harder to ignore a person right in front of you.

[Nobody]

try to find another mast must be something around
if you find a bent up mast you can cut a piece off and make a sleeve I have seen it done
if its just the track bent you could use a small propane torch to heat it up a bit and bend track flange
in the end its up to you how comfortable you feel with any option you choose do get
do get advise from a mast builder or repair service

[Cheechako]

A couple observations:
-If the crease is into the mast section other than the sail track part I would be concerned.
-The damage is right in the area where many masts fold.... just below the spreaders
-Mast makers or others are always going to stay on the "no liability safe side" with their recommendations, so you are not going to get much real help from those sources. Who in their right mind would say "it's fine"?
- Many masts are stiffened with outside plates, or inside sleeves, structural epoxy and rivets. Riggers, mast rebuilders do this. It aint real good looking though.

[mogulskibum]

Well one rigger finally got back to me, and yeah the mast is done. Cheechaco nailed it above when he noted the location: right below the spreaders & lower shrouds, aka highest stress point on a loaded mast.

So now they're working up a quote, and after a discussion with the insurance, we're going to be really close to the insurer totaling the boat.

Actually, at this point I'm willing to say it's probably more likely than not that I'll be in the market for a new boat in the next 7-10 days.

I'm honestly not sure how I feel about that.

[roverhi]

Masts that fold at the spreaders almost always fail because they lose a cap shroud. The mast is still supported at the spreaders by the lowers so folds there because of the loss of the cap shround. Don't think that is a valid reason to declare the mast a total.