Bent Mast on 26x

[K. Konzem]

Hi,
I have read and enjoyed this board forever, but I am a member as of today. Yes, and wouldn't you know I need help. I figured this was the one place to get some good information.

Today at the lake, after the anchor came loose and my mast was stuck in a tree and being blown up on a rocky shore, I lost it and apparently applied to much power. I sheared the starboard stay at the mast and ended up with a nasty, scary mast bend. I am asking myself if maybe I could straighten it out and use it. If not where do I go to get a new one?
How much is that going to cost me? I am wondering if I now have a 26x powerboat. Can I get some advice as to how to determine if a mast can be straightened and if not where to go for parts. This is a 2003 model 26x.

Thanks in advance.
Kevin

[Bobby T.-26X #4767]

'02 was the last year of the X (even though you may have purchased it in '03).
if you need a new mast availability depends on where you live.
if you're in the west, you can get it at the Mac factory (cash and carry only).
if geographically undesireable, you'll need to go thru a Mac dealer, pay the upcharge and the shipping.
that is, only if Bill at the Mac plant in Costa Mesa, CA still has them available in the yard...
so, start by calling the Mac plant and ask for Bill.

[RandyMoon]

Like Bobby said, I'd start with the factory or a dealer close to you. I would doubt that you could straighten an extrusion like that.

If you were wanting to look at options, I would check these manufacturers out http://www.dwyermast.com/ or
http://www.rigrite.com/Spars/Kenyon_Spars/KENYON.html

Good luck on getting things fixed.

[John McDonough]

I have a spare mast for a Macgregor 26D or 26C. That was the model before they made the 26X. I think it may be a bit shorter though.?? It had a small scratch on it from the factory and my dealer here in Pennsylvania sold it to me for $150.00. It is still sitting in my back yard. Where do you live?? I don`t know how bad you bent the mast, If it aint kinked you may be able to fix it. Good Luck

[bscott]

The Anchorage in Lyons Colorado has them in stock.

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

Kevin, just to ask the obvious, I take it your mast is bent for sure (ie. you took it down and there was still a bend in it?). If it were me, I would find the closest place that could make me a new one and not mess with trying to straighten it. Good luck.

[Trav White]

I have an '02 X that the previous owner also bent the mast. He replaced it with a 26M rotating mast. I believe there is a post with pictures somewhere on this site. He gave me the receipt and I think the total came to about $1300 with installation. Then he had to buy a new mainsail, since the M has a larger sail plan. Just another option if you can't find an X mast.

Pros: rotating mast supposedly points better, no backstay.

Cons: price, you have to install new chainplates a few inches further back since there is no backstay.

[DLT]

Kevin, just to ask the obvious, I take it your mast is bent for sure (ie. you took it down and there was still a bend in it?)

I think what Dimitri is getting at here is that the remaining shrouds may just have it temporarily bent. So, it may very well straighten itself back out, when you bring it down...

[K. Konzem]

Thankyou all for your insight and tips. I took the mast off the boat and it looks worse off than it did on. I am sure there is no saving this one. I feel as if I learned a lessons about trees and masts. First of all oak trees are tough, second they grow close to shore. I plan on staying away from both of them in the future.

I am on the West Coast and think the factory sounds like a good option.

I took the boat out today for the first time without the mast, it felt almost naked.

Thankyou again for the help!

Kevin

[gtquier]

I bent the mast on my 26X on a power line. It had a 9" deflection from plumb. I cut two blocks the shape of the mast, set it up on concrete blocks and judiciously applied weight. It isn't noticeable and seems to work fine. I used heat to straighten the stays but be VERY Careful with the heat. It doesn't take much. gtquier@cable one.net

[John McDonough]

You bent your mast on a power line. Was it energized??

[normo]

I recently bought a new mast for a 26X from Blue Water Yachts. The cost was less than $500. They made arrangements for it to be included with a shipment of a new 26M to a dealer close to my location. Took a couple of months.

Blue Water Yachts does a great job.

[K. Konzem]

After having removed the mast from the boat, and after thinking I have nothing to loose at this point, I have decided I may try and remove the bend. The bend to the side is quite obvious, and I can see what needs to be done there. The question I now have, is the top of the mast also tweeked toward the aftward direction. The Mac owners manual mentions a 2 inch bow when the mast is up and tuned properly. Upon inspection, with the mast off the boat, I see a slight bow to the rear from approximately the center to the top. Does anyone know if this shape is normal or do I also have another tweek?

Thanks,
Kevin

[Frank C]

After completely removing all tension from standing rigging the mast should be straight.

According to reading here, the mast is usually overstressed at the spreaders at about 12 feet. That's the halfway point from the step to the upper shroud tabs at about 24 feet. The final 4 feet (up to the full height of 28') attaches only the backstay, the main halyard and topping lift, if any.

Stactic mast bend is induced as the upper shrouds are tuned - the aft-swept spreaders, pushing a forward bow into the mast. The lower shrouds, attached at the spreader mounts, are tuned to limit the static bend. An adjustable backstay (non-factory) can induce additional, optional bend.

Read about rig tuning on the Brion Toss website. Also check out the Rig-Tuning Primer under Heath's page of Featured Articles. It seems from here that a mast tweaked in two different directions is a potentially risky patient. I think others have replaced their masts for < $1,000 ... required piggyback shipping to a Mac dealer, along with a new boat.

[K. Konzem]

Hi all,

I did try to take the bend out my mast. Forget it! After comming to my sences, I drove to Costa Mesa, and purchased a new mast and two new spreaders for one low cash and carry price of $477. Now its measure (twice), mark,drill and transfer the rigging.

K.Konzem