alluminium mast section

[ribs]

Does anyone know where I can locate a short section of mast?- Part of a broken mast would be ideal. I need to lengthen my replacement (second hand) mast by .5metre, so need this and a 1metre piece, from which I can fabricate a sleeve to join them- 1.5metre in all. The mast is oval section and 193mm fore and aft, and 159mm accross. The type of sail track is immaterial as it is to go onto the bottom of a keel stepped mast so will be inside. We are liveaboards based in Greece and are only in the UK for 6 weeks, so time is of the essence.Cheers Brian and Ruth

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[William_H]

Don't limit yourself to mast section. round Al tube just right fit inside with another piece for the mast to sit on may well work. Or what about building a tabernackle on deck then use steel or wood to make a support underneath. or shorten the mainsail luff and or move the gooseneck lower and or a block of wood for the mast base between mast and keel. Check a lot of mainsails don't go right to the top of the mast anyway and some centimetres can be gained. regards will

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[marina95]

HI Brian, hope you and Ruth are well!! Please check Ruth's email for an update on my proxy search!!

richard


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[Rick]

I'd be wary of anything but a sleeved section of the same extrusion, with a longish taper to minimise stress concentrations - even though below deck, that portion of a keel stepped mast is still an integral part of the rig - a deck stepped spar would be a thicker section for the same "I" measurement.

If it's a replacement, is it the same section (width, length, and kg/m), and have you "run the numbers" if anything has changed? (While agree with Boatless about looks right, rigs is one area where it's all science and no art.)

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[snowleopard]

i would avoid converting from keel to deck stepped as most designers specify a lighter section for keel-stepped.

if the manufacturers still exist they may be able to advise, they usually keep records a long way back.

looking for bits of broken mast of the right size will be like looking for the proverbial needle in the haystack. getting the wrong size will deprive you of the extra stiffness the deck-stepping usually provides.

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