carbon masts

Originally posted by fudheid

It looks as if someone has tried to do a repair on the cheap and it hasn't come off. If that was a full price job I think the repairer needs to be looking at themselves if they billed for it. If on the other hand it was "well, we'll have a go on the cheap, no guarantees, its at your own risk whether it works or not, mate", then well, these things happen.


I'm having trouble working out what I'm looking at... Is that one break or two? But certainly repairing that involves taking large chunks out and replacing them. It could very easily not be cost effective to get it done professionally because it means fabricating new sections that are exactly the right size. Also I fear it might be better if the whole track came off and was replaced.

If its a single break at the hounds then a whole new top mast might be the best bet. C-Tech, maybe amongst others make at least some of their carbon spars with a separate tapered topmast and parallel main section and a joint at the hounds.

As far as pre-bend is concerned most classes ban masts being built with intentional pre-bend.

the issue you will have it the leach will be massivly open is the tip points aft,
and yes jim there is a join in the mast,

Originally posted by timnoyce mmm, that repair is best described as terrible. If you paid for more than the materials then you have right to complain as it is shocking! Looks like a CST mast which is generally quite a large strand, but can be cleaned up and laminated quite nicely (I repaired a Cherub CST mast a couple of years ago). I'd not bother trying to straighten this one, just accept that it is a bad job and sail it as it is. As long as you can get the main up and it holds it up then it will be fine for training with at least, and to be honest you hardly sound like you are hoping to win the nationals so your skill will probably slow you down more than this mast. Careful you never know who your talking about  boat was bought as cheap dinghy, we have class wins in two and three wire boats as well as plenty of club trophies.... we were told it was repairable  If i keep it like it is i will have to recut my sails to fit this particular mast - not good. Save your pennys whilst you are practising with this one and then get a new mast when you can afford it.  This looks like the way forward. Any one interested in Carbon tube??

I think I know who did that, and I have had trouble even buying stuff from them.
35 hours!
That kind of job is 10h all things being equal.  Hundred quid or so for materials. Bit more to laquer it but you shouldn't see any bend or even notice a repair apart from a cosmetic wrap. Track should be seamless.
Even if he didn't have a perfect sleeve there are ways of making it line up.
Surely you could buy a similar mast new for £2200, even with the exchange the way it is.
Alternatively, get your boat insured (which you have to really if racing) and see how long the repair stands up for.