Mast replacement thoughts?

[Seapup]

While maneuvering around a pile yesterday I managed to catch a stay. Cleared the pile fine but failed to notice the marker on top up near the spreader that hung over a few feet. With amazingly little pressure the mast buckled at the spreader, so now I need a replacement. Talked to BWY today, they can get one shipped out next week, shipping and packaging to east coast unfortunately cost about the same as the mast. Live and learn. Anyway I have a couple leads on masts locally and phone numbers to follow up on tomorrow. Would like to get one local.

One is 27'3" long, 5-1/2" x 3-1/4" Includes boom & spreaders off of a Grampian 25.

From what I found stock X is 3"x4"x28' (Need to go gather it up tomorrow)

Any thoughts on this mast? From stats on the Dwyer site it looks like 3x4" is about 1.55lb per ft and 3x5 is about 1.65, so not too much more weight. I havn't seen it in person to verify though. Plan on taking a chunk of mine to compare.

Any thoughts on changing to a different mast and issues? I don't want to jump into a rotating 26m upgrade.

Anyone on the east coast know of somewhere to find a used mast? I don't mind driving a few hours.

Thanks, Alex

[Phillip]

From what I have learnt, Masts are mass produced, and the profile on the Mac is not special to the Mac.
The range available is absolutely huge.
I have looked up your location, and there must be many suppliers or repairers of masts close by.
They are easy to transport - just take your boat and put it on the top.
Maybe you search for masts on the net. You have all the fittings to change straight over.
Advertise the old one for sale. Someone surely need it.
The other option is to ask a local company specializing in masts, if it is worth having yours repaired.
Another little gen I have learnt, the X mast is very easy to raise by hand (very easy), but the M is not. So keeping that in mind, may pay to keep within the specs of your current mast.
Cheers
Phillip

[mastreb]

http://www.dwyermast.com/families.asp?c ... Name=Masts If you can find the same extrusion, you could just buy the right length and transfer all your hardware.

[Seapup]

http://www.dwyermast.com/families.asp?c ... Name=Masts If you can find the same extrusion, you could just buy the right length and transfer all your hardware.

Thanks, The DM-6 mast from them looks like it would work, about $750. Their phone just rang the few times I tried so not sure about shipping.

Advertise the old one for sale. Someone surely need it.
The other option is to ask a local company specializing in masts, if it is worth having yours repaired.

Without seeing mine thats a good thought, but I went and picked my mast up from the slip yesterday, pretty sure its beyond that stage

From what I have learnt, Masts are mass produced, and the profile on the Mac is not special to the Mac.
The range available is absolutely huge.
I have looked up your location, and there must be many suppliers or repairers of masts close by.
They are easy to transport - just take your boat and put it on the top.

Exactly what I was thinking. I started a scavenger hunt yesterday morning at 6am since one boat builder only takes calls then. He ended up being the one with the Grampian mast which was way to heavy. I ended up meeting about a dozen people who all had tips to the next. They all had the same reaction when they saw my mast "you must be mistaken, thats not a mono sailboat mast, its way to thin" The consensus was look for a beach cat mast. I ended up meeting the commodore for Hobie Fleet 32 who deals in spare parts. He was was very nice and offered to show me what he had, about a dozen masts from various models of cats. Although before seeing mine said there would be no way one was as thick as a mono mast, but has heard people "MacGyver" anything. He had several 26' masts that looked identical, but we ended up deciding a Nacra 5.2 mast was the best replacement, its 28' long same as the X and 3" wides same as the X. It section is 1" larger front to back and seems heavier built, but overall the weight seems not too much more. I still plan to step it by hand without the mast raising system. time will tell if thats possible.

For $200 I figure its worth a try, saves about 1K over ordering a new one and paying shipping. Today I will start transferring everything over and see if I can track down aluminum or stainless tube so I don't have to order spreaders.

The factory mast also bent at the boom fairly significantly when it went down. The spreaders are toast and I lost 2 slugs from the main as well as sustained 2 pinholes in the main where it got pinched. The marker sign remains unscratched



Was going to grab the trailer for hauling the mast but had to run all over downtown Norfolk to meet everyone. Ended up deciding the roof was the way to go. Still a bit interesting going around corners in the city, but made it home fine.

[mastreb]

Good luck and be sure to put up photos and a writeup when you're done!

[Seapup]

Good luck and be sure to put up photos and a writeup when you're done!

Thanks. It took a bit longer than I thought but I think everything turned out well. Since the new mast already had a nice top I was able use it instead of the macgregor halyard block. No more birds stuck inside the mast. The spreaders were a bit tricky but after bending the brackets to fit the new contour and measuring 20 times before drilling I think I have them on at the correct angle. I was able to scrounge 1" anodized aluminum tubing from a spa cover lifter for the spreaders too so no ordering. It was 3/4 ID instead of 7/8, but with a quick milling fit the tips perfect and should add a little strength. I debated shortening them a few inches but stuck with the factory 44" for now.

Another plus after fitting the main on I was able to move the gooseneck for the boom up about 6" and it leaves just enough clearance for 1 slug to enter, so I no longer need a mast gate.

Top view




Another plus after fitting the main on I was able to move the gooseneck for the boom up about 6" and it leaves just enough clearance for 1 slug to enter, so I no longer need a mast gate.





Now I just need to see if I can still step it by hand

[Seapup]

Wanted to give a last update. The Nacra mast seems to be working fine. Its more work to raise by hand and looks a lot beefier than the factory mast, but no real noticeable difference. I would suggest it as an option if you find yourself needing a mast. Other options I found along the way that may also work:

Stock X 28'
Nacra 5.2 28'
Hobie 16 Most common but only 26.5'
Hobie 17 27'-7-9"
Hobie 18 28'-1"
Prindle:
P19 Mast ---- 30.5 ft
P18-2 Mast -- 28.9 ft
P18 Mast ---- 28.9 ft
P16 Mast ---- 26.0 ft

No need for a mast gate:



Sailboat again and not just shamefully docked naked.

I have about the same rig tension as before. With the stock mast I noticed a significant bend in the mast from the backstay, looking at the pic this mast looks to be about straight.

[Catigale]

Keywords
Replacement mast nacra 5.2

[MacNCheese]

Thanks for the info! Soon I'll be able to access it...

Thank you Mr. Spambot for bumping an old thread and to Seapup for writing it as I'm just now looking for a 28' replacement MacGregor (for 26D') mast and only knew about the Hobbie 18 fitting. Now I see Seapup has found several other good options.

Someone who went with the Hobbie 18 mast said it worked great and that it also fit our base bracket without modifications, which is amazing. He was also able to step it fine.

[bartmac]

Having owned a Hobie 16 and various other sailboats...one thing struck me....not all that much mast on a Mac if its the same as a hobie 18....not sure of actual sail area

[Catigale]

deleted Spambot

[MacNCheese]

Having owned a Hobie 16 and various other sailboats...one thing struck me....not all that much mast on a Mac if its the same as a hobie 18....not sure of actual sail area

You are correct, the Hobbie 18 mast is 28' 1", and the Mac 26C is 28. However, the and are taller, 30', with more sail area.

How tall is the mast?

[Highlander]

Mast is 24ft

Mast is 28ft

Mast is 30ft

J