Normal life of a mast?

[Guest]

What would you estimate to be the normal life of an aluminium mast?

I have a 4-year old trailer sailer, which has only been used the last 3 seasons, as my insurance company can verify. Recently, in an accident on shore, the mast was damaged beyond repair. My insurance company have quickly agreed to fund a replacement, but have deducted one third the new price for normal wear and tear. i.e. they estimate a mast to last 9 years on average.

I think this is ridiculous. I have a 50-year old wooden mast for a GP14 which is still serviceable, and would have thought aluminium masts would last even longer. Am I unrealistic, or being totally 'ripped off'?

I would be glad for views and/or facts with which to bombard my insurance company.

Thanks,

Keith.

 

[ccscott49]

Aluminium does work harden over the years, wood of course doesnt, but does dry out and split if not looked after. Nine years for an ally mast seems a bit silly, Theres lots of masts on boats well over 20 years old. You have to think about it, but if thats what they say, I think you will have a great deal of difficulty convincing them differently, however the surveyors reccomend replacing standing rigging after ten yeras, I've never heard one reccomend nine years for a mast! Try asking a few of the surveyor types for advice.

 

[gtmoore]

The survey for my recently aquired 20 year old boat mentions that masts generally have a lifetime of 20 years although there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with mine. Whilst viewing similar boats, one had had a new mast fitted but the original had gone over the side due to standing rigging failure.

 

[Chris_Stannard]

I have recently seen a 20 year old mast which was rotten due to dissimilar metals being used.

I would ask the maker, if you know who it was, or someone like Southern Spars, for an opinion. You will have to get an informed opinion to get anywhere wwith the insurers, Scuttlebutt views will not be acceptable as evidence.

Chris Stannard

 

[Guest]

Our mast is 30 yrs old, last Lloyds survey 3 seasons ago, when standing rigging was renewed, at surveyors instuction, seemed happy with the mast, I am not sure what the hard and fast rule is. Presumably also depends on the level of support, i.e. our Hurley 22 as Forestay, inner forestay, 2 aft stays, plus cap shroud and fore and aft baby shrouds each side.

In addition to this it must also be a function of the wall thickness and sail area for loading. Is there any method for inspecting aluminium masts ut etc. I would be interested to know.

I would say that the insurers 30% reduction is based on commercial write of nothing to do with life expectancy of the mast

 

[Guest]

the aluminum mast on my 30 foot sloop is 34 years old and doing just fine.

krgds

pearlfish

 

[oldsaltoz]

G’day Keith.
My mast is over 20 years old, unpainted and only removed and given a good clean once about 4 years ago. An inspection showed 4 rivets had to be replaced and that was it, all ok.
The 33% of life quoted by the insurance company probably takes into account the number of masts lost over side during “normal life”.
Until last year I had never heard of an insurance company going broke, only their underwriters, but even that has changed now.

Avagoodweekend Old Salt Oz……

 

[dickh]

My mast on my Jaguar 27 is 28 years old, just had an insurance survey and all I had to do was replace some of the rivets at the hounds and free up a(unused)sheeve. It just has the normal scrapes and knocks of a mast that old. It also has a wall thickness about twice as thick as modern masts.

 

[Avocet]

That's barmy!!!!

My Cutlass 27's mast is 30 years old this year. Mind you, it's a chunky, stumpy, masthead rig and doesn't get sailed hard. I bet if it was one of these tricky bendy ones with several sets of spreaders and regularly raced, 9 years might be nearer the mark!