Soft spot in mast

[Mark1]

Hi there folks,
I have a little GP14 and the wooden mast has a soft spot in it where the bracket for the shrouds sits and above the halyard pully for the jib. The soft area in question mainly surrounds the stainless bolt that passes through infront of the hollow section but isn't confined and takes up an area approx 20cm long and 10 cm wide I am unsure of the depth I havn't had the guts to get the router out yet! I would say that of the volume of the area of that is 40% soft is this too far gone?

My plan is to cut out the soft bits with a router and use a ply template to guide me. I have router bits with sliding guide bearings so that I can be accurate, and hopefully get a nice snug fit for my replacement timber.

This is only an idea, I bet that there be a better way of doing this, which as a new commer to wooden boats I am not yet awear of. I havn't had much experience of wooden masts as previously have previously had modern dinghys.

Hope thats not too rambly!

 

[William_H]

The area of the mast you worry about is quite critical in that the mast is essentially unstayed above the forestay.

You might consider removing the fittings and trying to soak the rotten area with epoxy. Warm the wood and the epoxy to get it as runny as possible or even dilute with methylated spirits.

I would then suggest a stainless steel thin plate extending from above to below the rot with holes for the bolts and additional srews into the good wood.

However your wood replacement plan sounds fine. good luck olewill

 

[graham]

Doing a similar job I was advised to make the repair diamond shape so theres less of a weak spot at the top and bottom of the repair.

 

[kds]

We used to scarf veneers into and onto Finn masts to change their bend characteristics by using a .... (damn; forgotten the name - two handles with blade between - draw it towards you ? ) which allowed you to go deeper in the middle and fair out to zero top and bottom. Also gave a large glue surface to bond to.
Ken

 

[njamesphoto]

spoke shave?

 

[kds]

Yes - thanks !
Ken

 

[Mark1]

Thanks for the advice folks I will take it all onboard. When it comes to epoxy what would people recomend regarding keeping it out of channels. the halyard cords are pretty vunerable in there and I can't see if i'm doing any damage until it has set. Would it be best to make the new wood fit square or dove tail? taking onboard the comment about surface area of joint for glue?

all the best Mark