I must have killed a chinaman..[}:)][}:)] Ive had 2 weeks off with injuries & decided today Id risk it & try a sail.Rigged up & about to go out and the !@# mast was shaped like a boomerang..[}:)] I crossed fingers & hoped that is had just come apart but no such luck..The bottom had caved in just below the join..
As it was blowing a nice 20kts + desperation set in and I pulled out my old pink fibreglass 90's mast that I have had sitting around for just such an emergency..Umm..
This is with the turban on my 5m fully extended..
Nuh don't think so .. time to go home..##@!!![}:)]
I got home & realised I now have a top + a bottom that maybe can get me out until I work out how the hell I'm going to get another one..I've put the word out to mum & my partner for Xmas and + b/c I might be able to afford a cheapie..
SO they are both 430 remnants
the top I have is a reflex 3200QT wave MCS 25 IMCS 21 30% carbon
The bottom is a Sailworks EPX 430 MCS 23.5 IMCS 21
they join pretty firmly but have a bit of a ridge see below
They look the same but Ive actually rotated the mast inbetween shots..
Well do you think theyll die the first time I go out or should I just give it a go & see?
Probably lucky i couldn't get out as my ribs havent healed properly but..[}:)][}:)]
I'm no expert here but I'd probably sand the top thinner so that the two parts slide together completely with as little friction as possible.The compression forces will then be taken by the ledge only and you won't force apart the cup of your lower mast. I'd use wet and dry sandpaer maybe 120 grit to start going to 180 or 240 as it gets to a better fir. Soak the paper well before you use it and then repeat it regularly so you always sand with a slurry. Definitley worth trying I reckon
It already goes together nicely it just looks crappy from the outside..I might give it a quick run over with wet & dry..If the wind comes in Ill go for a sail today but sail somewhere with onshore wind so if the mast dies I'll get washed ashore..My usual place isn't the kind of place you want gear to break as you'd ned up several kms away on the other side of the lake!