masts go aluminum or not -- MOA

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Date Posted: - Tuesday - 01/ 6/09 - 6:32pm
Author: James Scheh
Subject: masts go aluminum or not

I am considering changing out the spruce main mast on my 31 for aluminum. Expense and esthetics aside why shouldn't I do it? On another note If I do it I will have a perfectly good mast for sail.

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Replies:

[> sale not sail -- james Scheh, - Tuesday - 01/ 6/09 - 6:36pm

Sale on the mast not sail. Although I would rather sail it.

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[> wood or alluminum masts -- Lyle Harris, - Thursday - 01/ 8/09 - 1:26pm

Hi James,
I've been considering the same thing for my M31, Starlight. It now seems that the spruce masts are in good shape, but needing a total stripping, epoxy coat and varnish. Same for the booms.
I've pulled them off the boat, removed all the rigging, and they are sitting under tarp on saw horses in my driveway, waiting for spring weather (too much rain out here right now). The masts are painted over varnish and look pretty bad at the moment. But they're sound. I'm going to keep them and go for a varnish over epoxy finish.
Aluminum would be great for the weight and less maintenance. I like the idea of having an aluminum molded sail track rather than the sections of steel track that are screwed to the wood masts. What I don't like is the expense that a total upgrade would cost.
All that said, I'm an experienced wood worker/do-it-yourselfer, but doing all this for the first time...
cheers,
Lyle Harris.

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[> [> It's not that bad -- Craig M31-25 Hibou, - Thursday - 01/ 8/09 - 3:10pm

Lyle,
I refinished my masts last winter just a few miles north of you. It's a time consuming job but well worth the effort. I couldn't imagine Hibou with aluminum or painted masts.
I'm starting over on refurbishing a boat and my first project, next week, is to strip and refinish the masts.

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[> [> [> Mast work -- Lyle Harris, - Thursday - 01/ 8/09 - 6:44pm

Well the work you did on Hibou convinced me to buy a Mariner31. I would be very happy for recommendations on finishes that worked for you. I've been recommended to use MAS epoxy, which I think is very good. I also like West System III. I don't have a favorite in the varnish department, and some information on this would be handy. I really don't want to be stripping these things every other year.
What's your new boat?
Lyle.

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[> [> [> [> Mast finish -- Craig M31-25 Hibou, - Friday - 01/ 9/09 - 9:23am

Lyle,
Thanks for your comments on Hibou.
On my third spring, in a row, of stripping and refinishing the cockpit I discovered Cetol. It's holding up well to our climate and where I have had to do some touch up that's what it was, a touch up not a redo. All the exposed wood on Marauder will be getting Cetol.
Marauder is a Hudson Force 50 with the "Venice" cockpit. The cockpit is aft of the pilot house but not on the stern. Let me know if this link to my photos works.

http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=227674678/PictureID=5981972054/a=85268984_85268984/t_=85268984

Craig

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[> Aluminum Mast -- Jake, - Thursday - 01/ 8/09 - 9:36pm

We have all aluminum spars on our mariner 32' "Maranatha" they're all white and I think not only very functional but they look great on the boat! Jake.

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[> [> Thanks For the input -- James Scheh, - Friday - 01/ 9/09 - 9:31pm

Is there anyone who has aluminum masts with wood booms. I have found an aluminum main Main In great shape but the boom is not long enough. Could there be any issues with matching a wood boom to a aluminum mast.

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[> [> [> Wood and aluminum -- Steve M-32 #59, - Saturday - 01/10/09 - 12:20pm

I have seen several boats with wood booms and aluminum masts. That is not a problem. Connecting them could be depending on how the gooseneck components match up and what you can do to change them as needed.

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[> [> [> [> Bronze to Aluminum -- Randall, M31, Murre, - Sunday - 01/11/09 - 10:28pm

Hey James,

Regarding bronze gooseneck pieces to an aluminum mast, check out how that's been handled on Tranquila, here:

http://www.marineryachts.com/owners/Tranquila/index.html.

The photo (second from top) is a shot of the boat owner basking and the boat on port tack, but if you look to the right, you'll see that a bronze gooseneck has been fitted to a spiffy looking aluminum mizzen mast. No idea what the gasket is...maybe just paint?

Detail below (click to enlarge):

Quickpost this image to Myspace, Digg, Facebook, and others!

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[> [> [> [> [> Thanks Randall -- James Scheh, - Monday - 01/12/09 - 12:09am

I am going to for sure keep my wood booms. I am going to meet with the rigger next week to get a quote on the work to hopefully use most of my current standing rigging on my main for the new aluminum main. I have done lots of other upgrades my self this one I am going to get some help from a pro.

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[> [> Need Mast/boom bronze connection -- Lyle Harris, - Saturday - 01/10/09 - 6:32pm

The bronze hardware that connects the boom to the MAin mast on my M31 is very cracked. IT's toast. I'm in need of a replacement part, if anyone has something like this.
Thanks,
Lyle Harris

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[> [> [> Cast Bronze -- Gitano, - Monday - 01/12/09 - 1:01pm

Hello Lyle,
I recently had a mast step cast in bronze. I recommend you call a casting shop and find out what they charge for a bronze casting. Usually you pay only for the bronze by weight (kilo). You need to take them the gooseneck, disassembled for sand casting. It winds up being relatively low cost, although some shops wait until they have several castings to make before they melt the bronze and pour, so it sometimes takes several weeks.

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[> [> [> [> Gitano--casting question -- Randall, Murre, M31, - Monday - 01/12/09 - 9:35pm

Where did you have your casting done again?

My mizzen goosneck fitting is nearly worn out. It doesn't take much abuse, so I've been nursing it along. But I really should get it done.

Are your masts up yet? Is your fitting in good enough shape to make a plug? Maybe we could have plugs of main and mizzen made?

RR

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[> [> [> [> [> California Casting (510) 232-2425 -- Gitano, - Wednesday - 01/14/09 - 4:24pm

Hi Randall,
Here is the link http://www.nffs.org/html/member.asp?ID=56
Its called California Casting, and is located in Richmond.
How are things?
Bruce

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[> [> [> mizzen gooseneck -- John, - Wednesday - 01/21/09 - 5:59pm

I probably have a mizzen gooseneck from an M-31 if you want to buy used.

John

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[> [> [> Mast/Boom Bronze Connection -- John, - Friday - 01/23/09 - 7:16pm

Fitting is called a gooseneck. There is one for the main and one for the mizzen. If you send me photos of what you are looking to replace I probably have it in my box of bronze parts from an M-31 if you don't mind used parts. These are factory M-31 taken from a wreck and in 95% condition. Let me know at SkiprJohn@aol.com
Before I quote a price I'd like to know if I have what you need. The price will be cheap.

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[> [> [> Gooseneck for main -- Gene Trentham, - Wednesday - 05/ 6/09 - 8:20pm

I have replaced my M31 masts and booms with aluminum. I have all the hardware from the wood spars. I also have mizzen, mizzen boom, and main boom. The main mast broke. Sorry I was late in reading you post. 231-889-4546. Northwest lower Michigan.

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[> Replacing wood masts with aluminum -- Dee Minter, - Tuesday - 06/ 2/09 - 7:52pm

We have removed our M32's (rotten) wood masts and are going to replace them with aluminum. I am taking pictures as we go although I was so busy during the mast removal that I only managed a couple. We have two aluminum masts and booms to use but will probably go with the old wooden spreaders. An appropriate mast step hasn't been designed yet. All suggestions welcome. Aloha!
M32 Kamahoi - Oahu

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