Today I sailed in very light winds for about an hour and noticed that the mast ball post was bent slightly....bent directly back towards the rear beam. What could have caused that?
My father in law speculated that the mast might have over rotated but I can't begin to understand why that might have caused it. It is a brand new post less than 1 month old. The only thought I had was that when I installed the new post I didn't cut the length down at all and perhaps it is too high? It probably stands up maybe 1.5 to 2 inches from the ball down to the beam. I thought that is about what I needed to give it the necessary clearance when I turn the mast on its side during stepping and unstepping.
So once you help me figure out what caused it, what should I do now? Cut it down /Shorten it?? I don't want to straighten it, right? Replace it AGAIN?

Thanks guys. I can give you a picture if you think it would help.

What kind of boat is it and pictures would help!

Nacra 5.5SL I can give you a Pictures tomorrow post bend but here is one pre-bend.. Is it too high?

Picture didn't come through the first time I'll try again

that does look pretty high.

What would help even more is a picture of the post with the mast properly seated on it.

I agree that it does look a little high - weird. But I notice that the picture didn't have it fully assembled.

Hey Bull, I replaced my ball and post at about the same time you did and I noticed the same thing happend to mine. I also had the speculation that I left the post too long. I have a very slight bend aft in the post and crease or dent in the ball, I suspect that it was from when I was attempting to step the mast and had the mast rotated to the side and basically hanging on the capitve pin and resting on the aft beam. Seems like that would be the only way I could get enough leverage on the post to bend it. I figured I would cut it down after this season. I am finally rigged and on the beach and have actually been out a few times; so I will be darned if I am going to de-step to cut the post down now!

I have a Nacra 5.5u - and my ball is about half an inch lower than that.

It took me a while to get used to stepping the mast on my boat. In my ignorance, I tried to mount the mast oriented vertically (not lying on its side), with more than a few demastings resulting (even snapped my captive pin in half!) My mast and ball escaped unscathed, but I can imagine the pressure from the mast being great enough to bend a longer post.

Good luck!

Aaron

It looks like the post is not connected to the dolphin striker support. Look at where the post sits on top of the aluminum support for the striker--it looks like it is pushed back.

I have a few Nacra front crossbars and they are either 'welded' (screwed in from the bottom?) to the support or they have a plastic/ruberized metal piece that holds them in place.

I bet that when you are sailing that rod 'walks' off the support piece and that probaly lends to your post getting bent because it allows it to go through the beam at an angle. I would also try to figure out how to secure it so it has some support and actually does its job, which is to support the front beam.

Dan,

That was another thread and that is why the beam has the large welded aluminum plate on it - post slipped off the striker. If I remember, he took that picture just before the base piece (it's alumninum) was expected to arrive.

fine--burst my bubble. I thought I actually had something relevant to add for once!

Sorry Dan, Jakes right on the money. I know how you feel though, there are lots of times I wish I had the knowledge to help out like these guys do!
Here are the current photos.... Sorry but I have to send them one at a time. I haven't had time to step the mast and take a picture yet but I will. The direction of the bend bothers me. I could understand it more if it bent forward rather than aft, figuring it happened while stepping the mast but .........

Picture Two of my bent shaft

And finally Picture 3 (opposite view of Pic 1)

I'd say that's a combination of not enough mast rake and too long a mast support. The threaded post has clearly developed a bend, and that bend is going to continue until the post fails if you try to sail with it as is....

Hey..hey...hey....there'll be none of that.

Sorry. It slipped out.

looks like your mast post needs to hit puberty and get a ball-drop.

Is the ball too high? By 1/2 inch? 1 inch?
Is the point to have it as low as possible but still have clearance enough to step it?

Finally, What is your opinion about continuing to use this post? Replace? Bend back straight? Leave it alone?

Thanks
Greg

Picture two different angle.