bent sprit

[joeh]

hi all
bent the alloy/ alu bowsprit over the weekend when outboard end fitting broke clean under load. it is bent about 5 degree a third along its length. it is a triangle cross section 8+ foot long maybe 2mm wall thickness ( actually a beach cat mainsail boom ). could it be bent back straight and still retain reasonable strength ? thks.

 

[Thistle]

I wonder if it broke / bent because it wasn't designed to do the job originally? Any straightening is likely to lead to weakening. Add these together and you may be looking forward to repeated failures.

So, while straightening may be possible, I'd think your best bet would be to bite the bullet and replace with something designed to take the loads involved.

 

[PaulJ]

I think it very unlikely that you will be able to straighten it without it kinking. A very long time ago I had a windsurfer with an ali mast. A wave dumped on it and it bent. It was not possible to straighten it, or at least, we tried but it kinked....... which is probably one reason why they no longer use ali for windsurfer masts! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

I fear that Thistle is right and you will have to replace it.

 

[William_H]

You either can straighten it or you throw it away so you might as well try to straighten it. The first thing would be to replace the end fitting and attach the bobstay and tighten it up. It may be possible to pull it sufficiently straight with the bobstay. Failing that take it off and try to straighten it. I tried to straighten a mast once by putting it under the boat trailer side rails with boat on and putting a jack under the middle of the mast at the bend point. It didn't workfor me as alloy of this type has to be bent a long way to get a permanent bend. but still you should try. Many workshops have a hydraulic press in which you coul;d try to straighten it. A mast rigging shop may also be able to do it however if you look like spending money to try to have it straightened then you may be better off looking for a replacement. The mast rigging shop may have mast material from broken mast which could do the job. good luck and happy new year will

 

[joeh]

thanks will