Is my mast ruined?

[mogulskibum]

So, while unstepping my mast one of the "shrouds" that was supporting the whisker pole I was using as a gin pole slipped with the result that the entire rig fell the last 10-15 feet.

A quick inspection showed two things damaged: one of the chainplates was bent over, and the windex was completely mangled.

I replaced both chainplates (they were 33 years old and due anyway) and bought a new windex.

Stepped the mast on Friday morning, and what do I just now find? A dent/crinkle right in the mainsail track.


Sail slides will slide right through it without a hangup. But...

I am trying to get a rigger to come look at it, but none are answering their phones or emails.

Should I skip the rigger and go straight to the insurance company and have their adjuster look at it?

(If the mast is condemned there's a pretty strong chance the boat will be declared a total loss as the insured value of the boat is only $15k - if that's the case I'd prefer to get started finding a new boat sooner rather than later...)

[hpeer]

I highly recommend Walden Rigging.
https://waldenrigging.com

I’ve used them to survey the rig on our boat and they did a fantastic through job. Extreamly professional.

That said, and I’m no expert, my GUESS is you are OK. I would take a 1’ to 2’ straight edge and lay it along the mast across the effected area. If you have bent the extrusion you should see daylight. Do it say every 45° around the dent.

My advice is worth what you paid for it.

[roverhi]

If the sail can still be raised through the kink you are probably fine. If the sail hangs up would need to have an auto body specialist see if they can pull the kink out so at least the sail will slide past it. If the boat is a hotshot sailor with a noodle for a stick might be a cause for concern but the mast on a standard production boat is usuallly very stout and capable of handling a small dent.

[donradcliffe]

As long as the mast is straight, a job for the BFS. (Big %^&*ing Screwdriver and a hammer)

[hpeer]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

As long as the mast is straight, a job for the BFS. (Big %^&*ing Screwdriver and a hammer)

Similar thoughts. Good tools and a bad attitude can accomplish a lot.

[Steve Bean]

I would get a long straightedge such as a six-foot level and check the front of the mast as well as the track side. If the front is still straight I would feel pretty good about sailing with it.

[catsketcher]

In engineering terms the mast is a column which gets bent a fair bit. The second moment of area is what mast makers get all excited about. The slot in the back of the mast section means that the alloy either side of the slot will not be able to take much compression load anyway although it will undoubtably help.

A crease here will compromise the ability of the alloy to cope with the compression load either side of the mast track. In front of the track is the back of the mast tube, if that is bent then I would be worried. So I would have a look at the section and determine if the crease effects anywhere past the sail track area. If the semi-circular tube part of the section is fine then a bit of prising with a piece of aluminium bar (it is as soft as the mast - don't use steel tools on the section or at least get something very wide to reduce stress) and a rubber mallet will have the section back to as good as new (almost).

We cut sections out of backs of masts all the time for main slots. This is near the spreaders so it is in a well held part of the rig. Tap it back and go sailing.

Phil

[a64pilot]

I’m going to assume that the mast has a box section that is internal, and the section that has the mast track is outside of the box section.
If so, then it’s my opinion that if there is no damage to that interior box section, that the mast structure hasn’t been compromised.

[mogulskibum]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

I’m going to assume that the mast has a box section that is internal, and the section that has the mast track is outside of the box section.
If so, then it’s my opinion that if there is no damage to that interior box section, that the mast structure hasn’t been compromised.

Unfortunately, that's an incorrect assumption. Here's what a cross section of the mast looks like :



As far as I can tell, the bend/crinkle doesn't extend past (or maybe even to) to the rounded corners to the sides of the mast.

Everything I know about structural mechanics (which is mainly unused engineering classes from 25+ years ago) tells me that this is probably fine, but then I see images of the mast collapsing when I tension the backstay to put more shape into the sail...

I don't race, this boat will likely never see blue water (sail in the Chesapeake) but still one worries...

[Don C L]

Lie on your back and take a sight up the leading and trailing edge of the mast. Take a picture of that. Do you see a kink in the mast or just a flattened section there at the hit? Your pictures suggest the integrity of the mast is not compromised greatly to me. But would you rather total the boat out and get a new boat?

[Dave Lochner]

Look carefully at the port side of the bend. On the starboard side the crease looks like it only affects the starboard side of the sail track.

However, on the port side, it looks like the crease extends all the way to the far corner. It is a little hard to tell from the first photo. If the crease does extend that far then I would be suspect of the mast's integrity.

It may be possible to cut the damaged section away and insert a sleeve to reinforce the mast and connect the two pieces. If the mast manufacturer is still in business, then a call to them might be helpful.

[Hardhead]

What did she hit on the way down?

Might be a good excuse to buy a new boat, if you are looking for one. Safety of the family and all that.

On the other hand, I'd bet it can be fixed, in one way or another.

It's always something. If nothing broke the charm would wear off.

[seabreez]

Originally Posted by mogulskibum

So, while unstepping my mast one of the "shrouds" that was supporting the whisker pole I was using as a gin pole slipped with the result that the entire rig fell the last 10-15 feet.

A quick inspection showed two things damaged: one of the chainplates was bent over, and the windex was completely mangled.

I replaced both chainplates (they were 33 years old and due anyway) and bought a new windex.

Stepped the mast on Friday morning, and what do I just now find? A dent/crinkle right in the mainsail track.


Sail slides will slide right through it without a hangup. But...

I am trying to get a rigger to come look at it, but none are answering their phones or emails.

Should I skip the rigger and go straight to the insurance company and have their adjuster look at it?

(If the mast is condemned there's a pretty strong chance the boat will be declared a total loss as the insured value of the boat is only $15k - if that's the case I'd prefer to get started finding a new boat sooner rather than later...)

I have straightened one before. Make a "T" plate to fit the track (polish the ends to prevent damage) use silicone to prevent steel to contaminate the aluminum. The tab that is in the slide, make it long enough to make a hole in it to grab with a slide hammer. Slide it up the mast to the damage area, then try to slide hammer the damage out. Worked great for me.

[Mlp48]

A friend wonderfully finished out a bare hull but bought a similarly damaged spar for the rig. He reinforced it after a lot of consultation but guess what ? He was afraid to sail the boat in wind greater than about 15 kts. Is that you'd want ?

[stnick]

Assuming the spar is strong and not weaken by the dent I would think a strong track wich is A poly vinyl external track that fits inside your existing track. There are special sail slides and the sail goes up and drops like a rock . !
Call your insurance they will sue your rigger !