Forums > Land Yacht Sailing Construction

Cuddly Mast

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Created by Nikrum > 9 months ago, 21 Mar 2012
Nikrum
TAS, 1972 posts
21 Mar 2012 1:41PM
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OKS! Which of yous Bozzo's fiddled with a furry mast? I have forgotten and need a little "Input" I have an oportunity to get a one peice Blue Glass Mast about 4.5mtr Long. It would appear to have a curved profile. That is it is axialy straight with a curved and tapered lay and about 3m wall thickness.. The mast looks to be in reasonable condition although very reminicent of a Plush Toy/Poo Bear. How to deal with it? Mayhap a little sand paper and over lay it with a layer of woven Glass??

WE heading back to Wynyard on Saturday so need a few pointers in the next day or three..------------------TP1. Keep it clean and nice Please..
Ron

Gizmo
SA, 2865 posts
21 Mar 2012 1:23PM
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Sounds like an original "windsurfer" brand mast that has been stored incorrectly perhaps with a weight on it (hence the curve) and stored where the UV light has got to it by breaking down the resin that's its made with.

As some of the strength would have gone by the fuzziness of the mast give the mast a spiral wrap with glass tape and resin and see how it goes....

Whats the worst that could happen? it snaps.... and you've been there done that before.

cisco
QLD, 12337 posts
21 Mar 2012 2:22PM
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Gizmo said...

Sounds like an original "windsurfer" brand mast that has been stored incorrectly perhaps with a weight on it (hence the curve) and stored where the UV light has got to it by breaking down the resin that's its made with.

As some of the strength would have gone by the fuzziness of the mast give the mast a spiral helical wrap with glass tape and resin and see how it goes....

Whats the worst that could happen? it snaps.... and you've been there done that before.



There, fixed it for ya.

Nikrum
TAS, 1972 posts
21 Mar 2012 4:33PM
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Aw Gees! Thanks Bozzo's, 'minds me tu gives yuz a cuddle some time..
I will offer $10 for it.
Ron
PS; The Curve isn't in the axial line but the formed profile giving a slight Barrel shape

sn
WA, 2775 posts
21 Mar 2012 1:39PM
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my first mast was an old one piece furry mast I fixed up.
It was wiped down with acetone, then brushed a coat of resin on it, next day, a light sand to get rid of a few sticky outy bits and another coat of resin.
mast is still in use (as back up spare)
Paul and TP1 tell me its better to add a bit of talc as a filler to the resin.

stephen

Nikrum
TAS, 1972 posts
21 Mar 2012 5:45PM
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Thanks sn,
If you can't say then perhaps Paul or TP1 could suggest what a little Talc means. Talcum powder I understand but a little is very a random measurement??

Ron

Nikrum
TAS, 1972 posts
22 Mar 2012 1:29PM
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OK,
Converting Cuddly Poo to a Blue Smurf.
I have taken a couple of pic's of that Mast after I bought it for $10.. It will be worth the money even if it is for further education...

I bought it home to Trav's and took to it with the back edge of an old knife as a scraper and half hr later had scraped all the Fur off so when I get back to Wynyard I will post my efforts..
Wish me luck or a broken leg..
Ron

desertyank
1262 posts
22 Mar 2012 10:48AM
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I think I'll go with the broken leg Ron...

colk2004
317 posts
22 Mar 2012 5:01PM
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"Wish me luck or a broken leg.." Same deal if you're a thespian, and I'm detecting a a bit of a thespian tendency

Cheers Col

Nikrum
TAS, 1972 posts
22 Mar 2012 11:01PM
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Well Ta Muchly guys..
One is wishing me Ill and t'other is calling me names!!
Nice One! Yuz is done hurt me feelin's now
Ron

landyacht
WA, 5921 posts
24 Mar 2012 1:22AM
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no need to scrape off the fur , you want to reincorporate it in the mast, just add enogh talc make the resin a bit thicker so it will hang when brushed on. I wouls add 1.5-2% catalyst rather than the proper 1% , to get it to set quicker.
adding anew layer of glass will simply give you a whole lot of sanding to do later and if the mast is so far gone it needs extra glass its probably just a waste of glass/resin

Nikrum
TAS, 1972 posts
25 Mar 2012 3:04PM
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Well you are a bit late for that Paul, 'tis done.


Poo Bear 1


PooBear2


Blue Smurf1


Blue Smurf2

The Stick so far. Now what? Paul.
Ron

PS; I thought a wrap with woven cloth would add a bit more stiffness?

landyacht
WA, 5921 posts
25 Mar 2012 9:07PM
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jus the resin and talc, Ive no idea how strong it will be , but I wouldnt waste cloth on it

Nikrum
TAS, 1972 posts
29 Mar 2012 10:25AM
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One never knows these things until you have Sucked it and seen. I compared it to my 100% CF and there isn't a great difference under a 1.5gk weight, about 4" droop. It is heavier walled by .5mm and a slightly greater dia.. I won't know how it performs until we get a little breeze around here.

I am going to use Epoxy Resin and turn the Mast untill the resin goes off, I found that method excellent for Rod Building as I have custom built many of my fishing rods, Heavy Salt to light Fly.

Test pilot 1
WA, 1430 posts
30 Mar 2012 4:38PM
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How long do we turn you 'til you go "off"

Nikrum
TAS, 1972 posts
30 Mar 2012 8:24PM
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Gees! TP1, You need a Bloody Good Slapping. Here I am struggling to behave and there you are doing your damnedest to stop me..

Any way How's your Knees and things?
Ron

landyacht
WA, 5921 posts
30 Mar 2012 5:29PM
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i just noticed the electric sander in the photo. I wouldnt have ven picked that mast up!!!!!
next tme make sure you do all the cleaning wet
have you thoroughly wetted down , vacumned and holed down you shed a second time?
I think i would start itching just walking past your driveway

Nikrum
TAS, 1972 posts
30 Mar 2012 8:51PM
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Actually Paul, I scraped the surface to start. That got rid of the long fibers then down here I Sanded it (Dry) and the wind took the little bit I removed out in to the Grass which I later mowed. Let the neighbors worry about the rest.

Tomorrow looks promising for a shot at Pegg's. North Westers 20 - 25Kts Low water at 1.36.. Luverly Stufffffffffffffffffffff.
Ron

Nikrum
TAS, 1972 posts
14 Apr 2012 9:39AM
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Right-ho! Cuddly Mast. Today I shall give it a try. I finally settled for a Gell Coat that I had left over from the seat I built (Occum's Razor). I think when the mast was built it it may have been a little over engineered to ensure strength of construction. I have further strengthened the base with an 800mm Tassie Oak Shaft epoxied into it, I also have a section of Aggy Poly Pipe fitted over it to protect it from the metal Mast Step. The Gell Coat has now converted it from Smurf Blue to Sky Blue Dislike Smurfs as they ain't far from Muppet's and we all know where the operators have their Hand[}:)]
Ron

Test pilot 1
WA, 1430 posts
14 Apr 2012 10:57AM
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And who is operating you[}:)]

landyacht
WA, 5921 posts
16 Apr 2012 9:45PM
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what are planning to use the mast on,
That is a rather flexy mast not really suited to big yachts or big pilots.
we use them on the little kids and small beginners Yachts

Nikrum
TAS, 1972 posts
17 Apr 2012 11:15PM
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This mast isn't what I'd call real soft (If you want soft Have a look at TP!'s Head. Now there is soft for you ) It is 4.5M long and Wall thickness of 3mm I had to add 1150mm to get the correct length and have had the Speed sail set up on it and takes a fair bit to sheet it right in.. We will see what a test run brings later on..
Ron



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"Cuddly Mast" started by Nikrum