Repair & maintenance: They broke my Finn!

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They broke my Finn!

Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Repair & maintenance
Forum Discription: Questions & tips on the subject
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13125
Printed Date: 25 Jun 25 at 11:00pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: They broke my Finn!

Posted By: snowleopard
Subject: They broke my Finn!
Date Posted: 29 Jul 18 at 3:28pm

There it was sitting in the dinghy park minding its own business when there was an overnight storm and a marquee pitched nearby (by the owners of the site) took off and wrapped itself round my mast and snapped it off at deck level. They have agreed to replace the mast but I suspect that may not go smoothly once it becomes apparent that a new carbon mast is likely to cost 3 times what I paid for the boat. Of course I'll have to tell my insurers and let them fight it out with the site owners underwriters.

Any tips on how to look after my interests from those who have been through this sort of thing?

My objective is to come out with a working boat or the capital I put in so I can get another (not necessarily a Finn)

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One hull good, two hulls better.

Replies:

Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 29 Jul 18 at 3:42pm

In your place I'm not sure I'd get my insurers involved if I could avoid it. Obviously you have to tell them somethings happened, but it might go more smoothly if you simply present a quotation for a new mast to the site owners and try and keep the value of the boat out of it.

Posted By: rich96
Date Posted: 29 Jul 18 at 5:05pm

If your site owners offer to replace your mast they would only expect to do it on a liker for like basis surely ? i.e. offer to pay for a second hand mast

If your insurers get involved it will depend on your policy ?. If its new for old that sounds great until you try to order a new mast - several weeks or possibly a few months wait probably

Getting new masts in the UK can be a proper pain

Whatever route you go down get a carbon specialist to repair your broken mast - its amazing what they can do for a fairly small cost.

Very few Finn masts get broken and are then totally discarded - as a repaired mast they still have value, even as a spare

Posted By: snowleopard
Date Posted: 30 Jul 18 at 12:40pm

Rich96 - sounds like you are a man with inside knowledge of Finns; can you tell me how interchangeable masts are, specifically the heel and deck fittings? I'd hate to lash out on a replacement only to find I had to do major surgery to fit it in my hull.

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One hull good, two hulls better.

Posted By: Fatboi
Date Posted: 30 Jul 18 at 12:58pm

The heel fitting and deck ring are all the same, unless you have something funky you should be able to swap to any mast manufacturer.

I would be a bit wary of someone fixing a snapped finn mast. Given their unique bend characteristics you would like change this at the least and most likely have a different reacting mast to when it was original. The finn mast reacts unlike almost any other mast and is vital for boatspeed and how the luff of the main is cut is mast dependent.

If you are after a second hand mast, then check out the UK finn website. The squad guys move masts on from now to then and would be a good bet to go talk to as even if they arent advertising a mast, they may be have one that they would sell.

Posted By: rich96
Date Posted: 30 Jul 18 at 1:21pm

Lots and lots of people use repaired masts

They CAN be as good as new but may be slightly different. The best thing to do is to try it and, if unsure, get the bend rechecked (this can be as simple as checking it against a 'known' mast to see if it is similar).

I have had two repaired that seemed (to me) just as good as before.

They obviously are worth less than an original mast but a repaired mat might still go for well over £1000

I don't know anyone who has simply dumped a broken mast ? Either they get it fixed or someone else has.

Posted By: snowleopard
Date Posted: 30 Jul 18 at 9:14pm

It was pretty much a clean break an inch above the deck collar so a repair is unlikely to affect the bend characteristics. It is of course at the point of highest stress so would need to be a really solid job.

For the insurers I have a quote of £2.8K plus vat and carriage for a like-for-like replacement. Top-flight spars go for up to twice that..

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One hull good, two hulls better.

Posted By: rich96
Date Posted: 31 Jul 18 at 4:39am

Yes

It would be easier to retain the bend with a break at that level than the upper more flexible and delicate parts of the mast

Also, any additional weight in the mast would be less critical as it would be low down

Finally that repairing at that level would not affect the internal halyard etc

If

Posted By: snowleopard
Date Posted: 31 Jul 18 at 8:56am

Inevitable next question - any pointers to a repairer?

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One hull good, two hulls better.

Posted By: rich96
Date Posted: 31 Jul 18 at 12:55pm

Lots in the South - Solent Boat Works, Zest racing, Boatyard at Beer, ?

You will need to find a local carbon repair specialist

As the break is so low down it should be a round section - much easier than the aerofoil section above the gooseneck with its integral sail track

Posted By: Gordon 1430
Date Posted: 31 Jul 18 at 2:25pm

There is someone near Bristol who does mast repairs.

Ovington have sent people to him.

I will try and find out his name and come back.

Gordon

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Gordon
Phantom 1430

Posted By: Time Lord
Date Posted: 31 Jul 18 at 6:50pm

In the Midlands near Hams Hall to east of Birmingham there is Phil 'Dirty hands' Scott who has repaired a number of Merlin masts to good effect. He doesn't do the web but his mobile is 07973720732. Also very good at repairs to foam sandwich, grp and wood.

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Merlin Rocket 3609

Posted By: Gordon 1430
Date Posted: 01 Aug 18 at 8:13am

Its Alex Knight aka Knightly near Bristol.

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Gordon
Phantom 1430