Pearson Boats - Common Systems > Mast and Spar Issues

Mast corrosion

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Now or Never!:
We were on our way south from Brunswick, GA, close hauled in a 10-12 knot wind, just a bit after sunrise and somewhere off of Cape Canaveral.  THUD!  What the devil was that?  A quick look around and I decided that it was a "boat noise."  Later, going below to use the head, I noticed that the bilge cover between the mast and the head bulkhead was askew.  I've monitored the corrosion at the base of the mast, but apparently failed to notice how advanced it had become.  The bottom of the mast had moved forward a good inch!  So,drop the sails,  a few more hours to Ft Pierce, FL.  Tomorrow we will have the stick pulled, I will cut off the corroded section and shim up the step with starboard.  I will put a zinc at the base of the mast.

Libations Too:
I have heard of similar corrosion problems and similar approaches to repairs in the past, though I have not heard of attaching a zinc. Is the Starboard strong enough to withstand the compressive forces of the rigging and the weight of the mast? I did not think such materials were sufficiently strong for such uses; when I have worked with it it was very easy to cut and shape...didn't strike me as suitable for structural repairs. Most of the other mast step repairs that I have heard of utilized a fiberglass block (or something similar) to support the shortened mast.

Good luck!

selene:
Bad luck with your corrosion problem.

I agree - I don't think Starboard is the right material to use (however, I am no expert!) It seems way too soft to me.

Aluminium, or (preferably) stainless steel would be good. There will be a significant compressive force on the chosen material.

Dolce_Vita:

--- Quote from: selene on November 29, 2011, 06:56:05 PM ---... Aluminium, or (preferably) stainless steel would be good. ...

--- End quote ---

Do not use stainless! 

Although a stainless step wont rust, the two dissimilar metals in contact (aluminum mast and stainless step) will guarantee that you will have galvanic corrosion of the butt of the mast all over again!  Use aluminum or some non-conductive material that's strong enough.

selene:
Ed, you are (of course) quite correct.  Stainless is not ideal but it is done with a suitable insulator between the mast and block. Starboard worse, however!  Incidentally, I don't appear to have a weep hole on the base of my mast.  Does anybody else?

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