You guys have missed the point of the platform swap. The harm to the mast would be done by the increased weight of the platform creating more righting moment on the mast.Has nothing to do with the wires or any of that stuff. That being said I think the HT mast could handle the task fine with proper boat handling.

If you are concerned about Buckling?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckling
>3.The boundary conditions have a considerable effect on the critical load of slender columns. The boundary conditions determine the mode of bending and the distance between inflection points on the deflected column. The closer together the inflection points are, the higher the resulting capacity of the column.<
add SPREADERS if you are really concerned.

jeeze, just let the boy put it on there and have him take pictures or describe the results (snap or no snap).

I have one more option. I could get a blank tornado section from Forte for just under 3,000 clams shipped. Anyone have experience with Forte?

I see in your original post you have new sails for an I-20. I am not sure if i missed this: is the goal solely to have a lighter mast or did you snap your current stick?

The i20 mast is snapped. Getting my sails re-cut for a softer mast isn't a big deal according to my sail maker and will cost about $300 to have it done.

I know a guy that has a carbon I20 stick he wants to get rid of if you're intersted.

I would definitely go for an i20 mast if you can find one. I know someone with an extra I20 stick too. The HT is 3 ft taller and it uses a different mast ball size. I'm sure you can do it but it will be a serious pain to accommodate the change. Good luck and let us know how it goes. Cheers.

The mast ball and related problems are not a huge deal to me, but I would love to hear about the i20 mast.

Check your PM

So this project will go forward, a very nice HT mast followed me home today!

On a side by side comparison, the masts are very similar. I was surprised that the spin bail on the HT was much lower.

Did that ring any alarm bells?

Make sure you get cash pledges from all those who advised you to buy this mast before you go ahead and rig it.

If it breaks it breaks, I don't have a ton of money in the thing. It it doesn't break, it will be worthwhile. If it does break, o well I have a spare i20 stick anyways.

what was the cause of the original mast fail?

It blew over in a storm.

gotcha... sucks

Any suggestions on preventing this in the future? Its the second such incident I've heard of in the past month. Currently my boat is on the beach, rig up, with the dolphin striker tied to a screw-type stake (used for beach umbrellas). So far so good in winds up to 37 kts.

Sand or hard packed soil? For sand, bury 2 2x4s a few feet deep and run lines from the 2x4s to the shrouds or trapezes. If hard pack, get more of the screws to add multiple tie down points.

Go to the sides/ traps with 2 tie-downs ( stakes, boards trees, signs,etc.) and not your dolphin striker they can bend out. Don't ask me how I know. Plus you get less leverage to the middle, engineer boy. tshan is right about burying boards, I just use 2X 10s or 12s 2 or 3 feet long.

I will add that if using the screw-in type anchors with an eyelet, make sure the eyelet is at or below surface level. the boat may slide a little and the eyelet can damage/puncture your hull. You may also want to secure your wing mast from rotating freely.