Horizon Cat mast bend/deformation

[albert.strunk]

I took delivery of a 2006 Horizon Cat in May and have been sailing it on the Chesapeake Bay.  On September 5, 2016 I was sailing close-hauled in about 20 knots of wind on a port tack - full sail, no reef.  My friend and I simultaneously noted that the mast above the level of the shroud attachments appeared to be bending to leeward.  We next realized that the mast below the shroud attachments had bowed to windward.  Short story:  mast deformed in mid-section about 8 feet above MasTender collar.  Mast is out of column alignment about 4 " from a line drawn between masthead and collar.  Tension on shrouds was set by selling broker, and I verified tension with Matt at ComPac (turnbuckles to be "finger tight") so - in theory - this should not be due to loose shrouds, though I have worried about laxity of leeward shroud on any point of sail.  Have also considered whether amount of tension on main halyard or downhaul could be implicated, but this seems unlikely.

Have spoken to Rich at ComPac, and we speculated about whether over tightening the gaff halyard could be implicated.  Rich told me gaff halyard should never be winched.  I had add a VERY little additional tension to gaff halyard with winch.  Hard to believe that would have done it.  Rich and Matt say that they've not had a mast failure before and conversation with Dwyer Spars was not helpful. 

Has anyone experienced a mast deformation on a Horizon Cat?  Any ideas about where to pick-up an undamaged "pre-owned" mast to replace my bent mast? 

Rich Hutchins and Rob Voigt (Great Lakes Sailboat Company) will, I am sure, be helpful in any way they can, but, in the meantime, I am unable to enjoy sailing this otherwise outstanding little boat.  I particularly appreciated a conversation I had with Rich Hutchins and his genuine interest in my untoward experience.

Any theory about causation would be appreciated and, if anyone knows where I might get an undamaged mast at less than full price, I would be grateful.

Al Strunk (newbie)
Davidsonville (Annapolis), Maryland

[rbh1515]

Al,
I sail a Horizon Day Cat on Lake Michigan, and it gets pretty windy here.   I am frequently out in 15+ knot winds without a reef in pretty good waves.   I bought the boat new, and have not had any issues with the mast.  I was told by Gerry at Com-Pac not to over tighten the shrouds.  The leeward shroud is always pretty slack when beating into the wind.  The leeward shroud is pretty slack in all the viideos that I have seen.  You have to wonder if the previous owner did something that compromised the mast?  I have not heard of anyone on the forum having your problem.  How much does a new mast list for?
Rob

[albert.strunk]

Thanks for your response, Rob.  I understand that a new mast would be around $1200.  Don't think that includes shipping.  If I must purchase a new mast - perhaps even a used mast - Matt at Hutchins said that I would be required to send them both halves of the MastTender collar for them to place on the new mast.  Needless to say, I would like to avoid having to pay $1200.  We'll see what happens.

20 knots is not much wind, as far as I'm concerned, and I don't understand why this mast should have deformed (bent) as it did.

Again, thanks for your post.

Al

[peterg]

check out youtube   "horizon cat mast bend"..............seems like a lot of bend to me.

[rbh1515]

Peter,
That's a lot of mast bend.  I don't think I get that!!  Next time I'm out, I'll do a vid of the mast.
Rob

[hoddinr]

I bent the mast on my SunCat, but that was due to a collision with a tree branch in the ramp parking lot!

I also notice that the leeward shrouds are slack going to windward.  I think that's normal.

Took Nomad to ComPac, and they installed a new mast - only $700 for the SunCat's smaller mast.

Ron