g'day ppl,

Just noticed some corrosion in my mast which has gone all the way through. The corrosion is located where the mast rotator meets the mast.

Just wondering if any one has had this problem and would you repair it or replace the mast.

The other problem is that Im up in sydney so if I buy a new mast how would it be shipped up here.

thanks
Will.

Wildtoy

It doesn't sound good I'm afraid <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />, probably best to get a new one. Corrosion is common around fittings, usually because of the fact that they are dissimiliar metals. The best solution or preventative measure is using a product called Duralac which is a paste used to separate the two metals. When fitting your fittings onto your new mast use Monel rivets also.

One of the association guys will have to help you with getting a new mast.

Regards

Hey its Ben I spoke to tim in vic about a mast section a few weeks ago. We were going to organise to get one up here to me in syd. Im sure we could organise to get two sent up there about $260.00 I think but not 100% sure. We shouid get out for a sail this weekend. Im prob sailing in pittwater. We could compare dodgy masts.

If the damage is at the bottom portion of the mast, then you could think about sleeving it internally without affecting the bend characteristics. Just find a length of the same mast section about a couple of feet long. Grind off the luff track and the flat web that forms the wall of the track plus a bit more. You now have a U-shaped piece of extrusion. Fit this inside the mast and then pop rivet it in place using about a dozen aluminium rivets. You might want to get a new mast anyway, but if you sleeve your old one, you'll have a good spare.

Wildtoy,

I've had this problem before and ended up rivetting stainless steel 50 mm long chainplates; Ronstan RF27 I think over the mast rotator on each side of the mast and drilling the centre hole out to take the rotator arm bolt (1/4" dia.) that goes all the way through the mast.

Use plenty of Duralac on both mast and the chainplates to prevent further corrosion and help seal the corroded area and don't forget to completely Duralac the rivets as well.

You'll probably still need to invest in a new mast but this will probably give you a bit more life out of the old stick. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Regards,

Peter

p.s. dig out as much of the corrosion as you can with a knife or old screwdriver to prevent further oxidization but don't go overboard otherwise you may end up with too many holes and nothing left of the mast. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Hi,
had a look at the bottom of my mast, looks like it is has a shorter section rivited to the base, on the attached pic the join can be seen just above the bottom level of the sail.

Paul

-----------------
Mosquito 1651
On the fritz

You really need to find someone who's making the Melbourne to Sydney trip with a trailer on the back (Sydney entrants to the McRae regatta this weekend for instance).

At $280 (ish - not sure exactly), for a new anodised section it really isn't worth persisting with an old mast, and risking more damage if it breaks.

Wildtoy,

If you can get the mast down to Frankston Yacht Club between the 4th and 7th of November, I can bring it back for you.

Thanks for the offer Steve. I'll see what can be arranged.