Mast Heel Casting

[PeteCooper]

The foot of my mast is filled with an alloy casting which has holes cast in for attaching the kicker and downhaul. The hole for the kicker is broken, leaving two jagged ends on the casting. If I fill this gap with a reasonably thick bridge of Plastic Padding will this suffice? Is there any other kind of 'plastic metal' which would be better? I had considered using an alloy or stainless tube to take the abrasion, rather than have the shackle direct on to the PP.

 

[bluedragon]

Let's see what others say, but I seriously doubt you'd get either the required tensile or bond strength with any "plastic metal"...they are after all simply filled epoxy or polyester resins, the name can be a bit misleading. Cast aluminium is notoriously difficult to repair. What about a stainless steel strop attached to the mast heel with self tappers or other mechanical fasteners? That's the approach I'd take.

 

[ashanta]

I have a cast metal base for my mast on my T31. My attachment for the Kicking strap is a stainless steel ring which fite into two lugs (like a horseshoe shape) and allows the ring to move up and down freely. I would try and find a way of fitting a substantial attachment rather than trying to repair the cast with plastic padding as the load can be quite high on the kicking strap. I have bought a metal compound that you get as roll and you slice bits off it to repair metal. You mix the the slice together and it forms a kind of putty that hardens (I assume an epoxy) very solidly. this might be of help. I will look in the garage to see what the name of it is and I will post back.
Regards.

peter.

 

[Strathglass]

There is not a chance of plastic pading holding the tension from a kicker.

Can you rivet an eye onto the foot of the mast instead of trying to use the mast step? This would be much stronger.

Iain

 

[starboard]

just replied on Skuttlebutt, dont try and fix casting will not work. Rivet kicker fitting to rear of mast just above alloy casting. Similar fitting as to fitted onto boom. I had same problem and this fix has worked for 6 years.

Paul.

 

[steve6367]

I had my mast foot casting repaired in a local metal shop when it was damaged while bringing the mast down. All has been well since. Maybe you could find someone near you? Or failing that fix your kicker to the mast just above the foot?

 

[Avocet]

You can probably get it welded if you can get it off the boat. This is the most preferable way of fixing it. Failing that, look at alternatives. Is the base thick enough to drill and tap and then screw an eye bolt into? As has already been said, I think any kind of chemical metal will be a waste of time.

 

[William_H]

If you do take the mast off don't count on getting the casting out of the mast without a fight. I reckon those cast Al bases are dreadfull. Steve 6367's story is the usual outcome of these bases if you lower the mast often. So try to drill and tap into the base to fix a SS saddle or shackle. Good luck olewill