Please tell me what you think

Comment by Robert Hughes on April 6, 2014 at 8:57am

Do you know what caused the pitting?  It looks quite deep but localized, not something you often see.  In the picture the rest of the surface looks pretty good, but is there any pitting elsewhere on the mast?  If the cause is unexplained I'd worry there might be more going on where you can't see.  Did the mast spend a lot of time down, laying on something like steel tressels?

How serious it is depends partly on where it is on the mast, and also on how much reserve strength there is in that particular rig.  If it's local damage in a non-critical area of a well-stayed low stress rig and the cause has been eliminated it's probably not going to fail anytime soon.  Having said that, if it was my mast I'd try to get an expert to look at it.  It might well be possible to reinforce or repair.

Comment by boatsmith on April 6, 2014 at 10:17am

good advise there imo

Comment by Barefoot Boat Bums on April 6, 2014 at 12:37pm

Thanks for the advice, being in the channel islands its a bit difficult. Its on a Pahi 42 and this photos is about head height up the mast, it had spent I think about 17 years lying on the ground being covered in grass. then its been up for 3 years hardly sailed. this damage is just about the same height as the wishbone. There is a few places up the mast which is similar to this but not as bad I will post more photos of the rig....

Comment by Barefoot Boat Bums on April 6, 2014 at 12:40pm

I dont know if the 3 photos I have just uploaded are much help. but just above the wishbone is where the damage is... thanks

Comment by Rod Jones on April 6, 2014 at 8:07pm

That mast is ready for the scrap heap. If its that corroded where you can see, there are other places that are surely compromised also. Aluminum masts have a lifespan, and that one is done. A dismasting mid ocean could result in the complete loss of the boat if unable to jury rig. It's not worth the risk.

Comment by Robert Hughes on April 7, 2014 at 4:13am

On the plus side that rig looks incredibly well stayed.  The unsupported spar lengths between the points fixed by the rigging are very short, so that's good on the face of it, unless the cross section is light and it needs the extra support.

On the minus side that history sounds very worrying.  The pitting might be due to electrolytic action in the damp conditions, with chemicals from the soil or the plants.  It could be due to the aluminium resting on another more noble metal.  It could even be due to secretions from the little critters that live down there.  Masts have plenty of holes where dirty water could get inside and lay there if it's stored like that, so there may be damage inside that you can't see.  Crevices behind fittings might also have significant corrosion inside.  Consider too the standing rigging, how old is it, how was it stored, what are the end fittings like?  If it was stored on that mast for years (or even left salty and kept indoors) I definitely wouldn't trust it.

Each skipper has to make their own decision, but if it was my boat I wouldn't plan on doing a trip any further than my range under power without a very thorough investigation and probably replacement of the mast.

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