Bent Mast

[DanCampbell]

Hey All. I recently purchased my first sailboat, a MacGregor 21 built in 1983. During the first week of June 2024, I was at Elephant Butte NM where a former Commodore for the Rio Grand Yacht Club was helping me step the mast (my first time). Unfortunately there was a third man. He was on the winch. When the forestay caught on the bow he cranked as hard as he could. The mast is now bent. The mast channel is badly deformed (see photo). No shop that I have spoken to wants to take on the job. Does anyone know where I might find a replacement? Or, Does anyone know of a shop that would take on the task? Thanks.

[leefrankpierce]

https://shop.bwyachts.com/product-p/3209-1v0.htm

[DanCampbell]

Thanks Lee.

[Stickinthemud57]

Welcome to the forum!

Depending on the amount of free time you have overall patience with the process, you can unbend a bent mast. All said, $700 is not bad, and there will probably be less cursing involved.

[DanCampbell]

Hello Stickinthemud. I appreciate your opinion, but it does raise a question. By "$700", were you referring to the price of a new mast? Blue Water Yachts replacement cost is $800 not including transportation. I just might tow the boat to their shop near Seattle WA and have them install a new mast and more. The estimate on shipping was double the price of the mast itself. So, by $700 were you referencing the cost of a new mast?

[Highlander]

Hi do u have a pic showing more of the mast if it is only the mast grove that is damaged "dented" a hardwood wedge slightly wider than the grove driven in halfway from the top & then the bottom very slowly while using an electric heat gun to preheat the mast should do the trick .
Inserting the wedge about 6" above & then below only going halfway each end to just passed the center of the damage each way
If u could post more pic,s say one length wise to show if theirs an alignment issue "straight mast" length wise & showing pics of both sides & front of the mast so as we can determine if that,s the only damage

J

[Stickinthemud57]

Hello Stickinthemud. I appreciate your opinion, but it does raise a question. By "$700", were you referring to the price of a new mast? Blue Water Yachts replacement cost is $800 not including transportation. I just might tow the boat to their shop near Seattle WA and have them install a new mast and more. The estimate on shipping was double the price of the mast itself. So, by $700 were you referencing the cost of a new mast?

You are correct. I did not take into account shipping and probably got the price wrong as well.

Yes, shipping will kill you on that sort of thing. I ordered an 11' section to fix a mast I bent and shipping was something like $280.00.

I was able to restore my Hunter 170 mast in my backyard and driveway with a hydraulic jack and my van. Not everyone's cup of tea, but It's doable, just depending on what your time is worth.

EDIT - How sharp is the bend? Splicing could be a cost effective alternative. It's what I did.

[DanCampbell]

Thanks for the replies; they are appreciated and encouraging. Here are two photos. The mast is 24 feet long. The deflection (or bend) is approximately 3.5 inches.
Regarding an electric heat gun, how strong does it need to be; in amps, or perhaps BTUs?