My mast broke!!!

[mattt6511]

Hey billy the shackle actually broke in half, the reason im replacing all the rigging is when i started the outboard the rigging got caught in the prop!!!! :-( And i figured it would be safer to have all brand new rigging having the mast fall was a pretty scary thing i mean thank goodness it didn't hit us. I took several pictures and uploaded them all to my photobucket account here is the link for them!! i would post them on here individually but it would take too long.   Oh yeah it was feezing outside today so i layed the mast on the beach quickly took the pictures then i brought all the sails home washed them all of with freshwater and put them in the spare room with the fan on to dry them, the sails didn't get damaged. Link for pics   http://s573.photobucket.com/albums/ss175/mattt6511/Compac%20Sailboat%20mast%20broken%20standing%20rigging/?action=view&current=IMG_0380.jpg

[Salty19]

Well, it's tough to give a firm recommendation based on just pictures, but it appears as if you have a few things to do:

-replace all the standing rigging, turnbuckles, pins and chainplates.
-mast looks OK?  Again, tough to judge this without looking at it in person.

The tabernacle (mast step) is trickier.  I would suggest having Hutchins or a pro take a look at.   At minimum, it needs to be resealed and rebolted to the cabin top and the area underneath inspected.  Could be as easy as sealing/bolting it back on or more involved with fiberglass work...dunno from the pics.

BTW none of the wires or connectors in the pictures looks factory or marine grade.  Scary.

[ssullivan]

i would not use a shackle there next time. ill post some pics of the stock rigging latter

[kickingbug1]

 yeah, i would agree with salty on this one. looks like salt water corrosion was the culprit. i would think the chainplates might be fine but i would at least remove them, clean off all the rust and replace them with new hardware. shame about the rigging but i have seen that on a lot of saltwater boats. they have to be inspected far more often than us freshwater guys. i think they make a cleaner and wax to use on the stainless wire and fittings. the tabernacle is probably easily fixed with stainless machine screws and nuts and two  backing plates inside the cabin.

[HideAway]

Matt

The thing about stainless steel is that exposure to salt water can cause it to break without showing signs of problems.  Looking at your pictures I agree with Salty - replace everything and ask Compac about though bolting the mast step with a backing plate rather than ripping up all that glass.  Its not worth the risk to do anything less. My 23 has a custom mast step you might want to  have a look at.  Go to my utube site below  and watch Bay Sailing video.  I don t know who made it but the guys at Compac might - tell them its on hull #2.   

You could have been on the other side of Hurricane Pass -- Then what?

There is what once was a nice Irwin 29 at anchor off Gulfport - we see it everytime we sail.  No mast.  The single starboard 1/4 thick by 1 1/2 inch wide chainplate  broke with all sails up in Boca Ciega Bay.  I wasn't aboard when it happened but I did see the chainplate.   All the rust was inside - there were no convincing signs of weakness on the out side - In fact it looked better than what I saw in your photos.   The scary thought is that my 23 with its six individual chain plates for the shrouds has better rigging than the much larger Irwin.   Looking at other boats it seems a common practice to run the lower shrouds to only one chainplate.   Another plus for Compac!    Matt

[HideAway]

I found a photo - well a partial photo anyway