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Bent Mast Crutch

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Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/16/2006 : 21:13:56

Last time I launched the boat, I bent the upper tube in the telescoping SS mast crutch. I was surprised how thin the upper tube was. I tried to bend it back but it don't telescope in or out any more. It's very easy to bend by hand. Today I visited a machine shop and ask if they had any SS 1" tube laying around. As luck would have it they had a piece the exact length I needed and even gave it to me,

"freebie"

Its much thicker than the one I bent, more like the bottom tube of the crutch. I now have to cut the roller part off the old tube and find someone that can weld SS and have it welded to the new tube.

Lesson Learned. If you have the SS telescoping mast crutch raised, be careful when your rolling the mast back to place in the step. It don't take much to bend that upper tube in the crutch.

1997 250 TR WK (sold)
1984 O'Day 28 (sold)
1979 SISU 22
Bath, NC.

Edited by - Tom Potter on 06/17/2006 08:47:46

jking
Navigator

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110 Posts

Response Posted - 06/17/2006 : 13:13:06

That is really bad news, Tom, but it sounds like you have a workable solution. The bigger issue would seem to be that the crutch could break if unduly stressed during trailering, such as could occur during a sudden stop. I can't imagine the damage that could occur from losing the aft mast support on the interstate.

I wonder if this has ever happened?

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 06/17/2006 : 14:27:46

Hate to admit it, but we had almost that scenario of trailing and the mast crutch breaking.
We were on a 60 mile trip late last year, we stopped before hitting the turnpike to make sure everything was still secure, all was fine.
But upon arrival at the marina, we found the aft mast crutch had jumped off the pintles! The post was leaning crazyly to the stbd side and the back(top) of the mast was somehow supported by the now diagonal crutch post such that the spreaders were still clear of everything!

We put that one down to a 'Close Call'.

Our check list now includes: 'Ensure Crutch post retaining clips are in place'

Paul

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 06/17/2006 : 21:46:48

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americanrascal
1st Mate

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USA
50 Posts

Response Posted - 06/20/2006 : 18:31:41

Tom:
I believe we have 3 positons on the crutch. Do you recall which one you were utilizing? I have mine in the one in the middle (or second lowest) for travel and didn't have any problems, but I don't want to run into the problem you had.
Joe

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 06/20/2006 : 18:51:17

It was fully extended when it bent. I had extended it and was rolling the mast back to put the bolt in the step, one of the shrouds caught a ear on the crutch while I was rolling it back and it bent right where it goes into the bigger tube. I travel with it all the way down.

BTW, I now have all the parts to built a new one (free) and have lined up a welder to weld the SS for me on Friday (also a freebie). The new one I'm building is the same thickness as the larger bottom tube, which is about twice as thick as the upper tube I bent.

Edited by - Tom Potter on 06/20/2006 18:51:47

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 06/23/2006 : 20:43:56

The new and improved mast crutch is fixed! Total cost $6.38 for an ACE hardware 1/4 Stainless Steel drill bit!

yes Sailorman... I bought the drill bit in one of your stores!

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 06/24/2006 : 08:32:17

Tom,
the more I think about it (the trailering mast crutch post) the more I think about building a scaffold type bridge across the stern.
It would hold the mast up during trailing (who cares if it's higher) and I could shift the back stay to the bridge too. Hang the dinghy off it, and the generator, put up a wind genny, solar panels... Oh, that's why.. boat bucks!

Paul

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 06/28/2006 : 18:10:23

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by britinusa
 Tom,
the more I think about it (the trailering mast crutch post) the more I think about building a scaffold type bridge across the stern.
It would hold the mast up during trailing (who cares if it's higher) and I could shift the back stay to the bridge too. Hang the dinghy off it, and the generator, put up a wind genny, solar panels... Oh, that's why.. boat bucks!

Paul
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

[url="http://wellsmarine.com/catalina/catalina.html"]Here you go[/url] Paul, Let me know how it works.

Edited by - on

britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 06/28/2006 : 19:25:40

Tom, one of those would do the trick!
Any ideas on how I can add 10' to the back end of the boat so that it'll fit. and only $2635 plus the fittings

They are just down the road from me too!
2511 NW 16th Lane
Pompano Beach, FL 33064

Paul

Edited by - on

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 06/28/2006 : 20:01:29

Check the measuring instructions, I'm sure they'll make one to fit. All you have to do now is convince the Admiral that you need it.

Edited by - Tom Potter on 06/28/2006 20:02:17

bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 06/28/2006 : 20:34:29

OK,I've been debating since last September to write what happens to a mast when you hit the new pavement "Bump"on a road being resurfaced. Not going more than 45 miles on a main road that had been in the process of being resurfaced I hit the new pavement section of the highway, probably a 1-2" sudden jump. My son was following me in the vehicle that carries all the surplus stuff from the boat. He told me the trailer was airborn for an instant. The following results are what we visually could see after pulling over. The lower mast support tube sheared off the pin that keeps it ftom jumping up, the actual mast support came out of the grudgeons and was dragging on the pavement, the shrouds were resting on the life lines. The impact one way or the other broke off the bilge pump cover. After securing the mast and driving on home when I took the trailering cover off the CDI furler I discovered the bearing had been popped out of the housing it sets in. What a job reseating that puppy. Also,I was scared to death that I had cracked something structural inside the boat. The trailer seemed OK. The mast and furler were fastened by bungee chord in many places. I have always trailered with the mast support all the way extended, easier getting thru the hatch. "Brandy" was OK after launch this season, no water leaks and ballast tank appeared in tact. Incidently we have had upwards of 8" of rain in upstate N.Y. in June alone. The "Great Sacandaga Lake is up four feet and flowing over the dam. Would love to give some of this water away......

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