Rot in the Crosstrees

Seah0rse

Seah0rse

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Me UK boat Albufeira
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Hello All

I have had my main mast unstepped and to my horror, found extensive rot where the Crosstrees are fitted. My amateur thoughts are to clear out to sound timber and fill void with resin and re drill. Any recommendations would be most appreciated.

Thanks
 
This very day, I've written off my mast with this. I discovered the rot 6 years ago, and carried out what I thought was the complete eradication of existing rot, but obviously hadn't as the mast deteriorated further to where I've condemned it, even after giving it a very thorough, hands on inspection only 6 months ago. The mast is now failing visually and structurally where my repair is.
This was my repair, an amateur as you state you are, so I'd suggest not attempting anything at all except to get an expert in to do an expert repair, which possibly (no offence Wansworth) is to fit a graving piece.
I've just finished writing to a mast manufacturer 'up here' for a quote; no matter how much I drink, I can't feel jolly about it.
 
jamie N said:
This very day, I've written off my mast with this. I discovered the rot 6 years ago, and carried out what I thought was the complete eradication of existing rot, but obviously hadn't as the mast deteriorated further to where I've condemned it, even after giving it a very thorough, hands on inspection only 6 months ago. The mast is now failing visually and structurally where my repair is.
This was my repair, an amateur as you state you are, so I'd suggest not attempting anything at all except to get an expert in to do an expert repair, which possibly (no offence Wansworth) is to fit a graving piece.
I've just finished writing to a mast manufacturer 'up here' for a quote; no matter how much I drink, I can't feel jolly about it.
Click to expand...
No mention of how the mast is constructed or maybe it’s a solid spar
 
I've often thought of making a new mast, and agree that it's not (probably) beyond my skills level for a solid mast as a direct replacement, however with regard to the time of year, I'd undoubtedly lose the whole season in making it, which isn't good at my age. It's a certainty that the guys I'm contacting to make the new one will do a better job, and in a time that'll enable me to sail this year.
My mast was solid spruce I believe, and in the region of 60 years old.
 
Wansworth said:
Making a mast is not beyond the skill of a attentive amateur especially with epoxy glue
Click to expand...
Quite:
Having made all three spars for my fearing by the 'birdsmouth' method in 'red pine' (dunno the english for it) I have on the bench a 23ft free standing mast being laminated up right now. We can get good oregon pine locally in 6 mtr lengths, so the extra is scarfed on at 12:1.
Just noticed the OP's boat is in Albufeira, so more complicated.
I know a local marine surveyor there, who is a very good woodworker. He might be able to help. PM going off.
When down there I helped a friend repair his masts with extra length spliced on with clothspeg joints. At 50ft the bigger one was fun transporting.....Early Sunday morning on back roads, when one hoped the GNR were in bed or the coffee shop.

If the rot is bad, I would rebuild the mast, using the upper and lower sections with two fresh pieces at the joint, scarfed either side at least 12:1, so two 'v' joints back to back.
 
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Seah0rse said:
Thanks for your replies. The mast is a box construction of about 55 years old which had delaminated due to glue failure
Click to expand...
Had that happen,you could possibly cut along the glue lines and start again,loon up the price of new seasoned wood and think about a new mast if you have the space
 
Without actually seeing the damage it is difficult to give anything more than general observations. Hollow box section masts are usually easier to meds than hollow round ones. If the glue lines have failed then there is really no alternative to cutting out the panels that are no longer attached properly and either replacing or repairing before replacement. Obviously if there is rot then it must be cut out.

The first thing to do though is to strip the mast of all fittings and coatings so that you can see what is wrong then determine the best way of tackling it.
 
My mast is beyond repair, and I was out sailing last weekend when the damage due to rot became apparent, as it had been in the centre of the mast.
OK, that's life, and it was 60 or so years old with an unknown distant history.
A factor to bear in mind is the replacement time. For myself, it'll not be this season as a Folkboat mast isn't on a shelf in every chandlery. I could possibly get a metal mast of some sort, but would prefer not to, thus I'm having one made in about October.
The point here is that simply getting a repair, or doing a repair might not be straightforward within a suitable time frame.
 
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