I have a pretty good dent in side of my Alum H-16 mast about half-way between the base and the shroud plate. The Dent is about an 1 1/4" deep and fist size in circumference. I don't know where the greatest stress on the mast occurs, but this
<br>seems like a bad location for a dent of this size. I've thought of fixing the dent by drilling one or two nickle size holes in the opposite side and using a wood dowel or something like this to push out the dent. I would tape off the runner for the sail and fiberglass around the patched areas, then sand, smooth and paint.
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<br>Does this seem feasible, until the money comes in for a replacement mast, or should I abandon this idea and locate a used mast??
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<br>Mike<br><br>

Instead of drilling large holes in the opposite side of the dent, I would go to WalMart and buy a cheap auto dent puller. These are the same tools they use for pulling dents out of cars. It looks like a rod with a weight that slides along the rod. The tip of the dent puller has a screw. You drill a few small holes in the dented area, screw in the dent puller, and slide the weight along the rod. The force of the weight hitting the end of the rod pulls the dent. After you pul the dent, then use epoxy/fiberglass to finish the area. It may hold you over for another season.
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<br>Good Luck
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<br>Mike H16<br><br>

There is a mast on ebay...bids end on 8/16.<br><br>

you might find that the aluminum is work hardened and you may not be able to remove the dent without the aluminum cracking.<br><br>

I have the same problem with the all-alu H16 mast on my Tremolino tri. It has a dent that is not as deep as yours but the mast is like a bow. The dent is in the lower third of the mast, the side. I have sailed the boat for two months now and it is not great but works. Did not really press the mast with the downhaul. I agree that bending aluminum back just might crack it. How about riveting a sleeve on top of the area?
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<br>The unfortunate thing is that I bought a mast from FL which arrived with a dent above the forestay attachment, so now I have two bent masts. The second one will work great with comptip replacement though - any takers in Boston area?
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<br>S.<br><br>

Hi Mike,
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<br>Can you check where the crack is located on the mast compared to the total lengt of the mast. You might have enough lengt to flip the mast upside worn, cut the dented piece away and comptip the mast.
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<br>If not, I would try to salvage it anyways. Both the auto dent puller and the wood dowen are good ideat.
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<br>Another idea yould be to shape a piece of wood to the inside section of the mast and insert it in the mast once the mast dent has been shaped back in form. This would keep the mast from collapsing at the dent point. You can also rivet a metal plate on top of the dent but unless you can find a way of bending it with the same shape as the mast section, it might not be very efficient to keep the mast from collapsin at the dent point.
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<br>Anyways hopes this works out<br><br>Charles Leblanc [color:blue] Nacra 5.7 #123 </font color=blue>