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 Post subject: Mast Hairline Crack
PostPosted: Mon Nov 30, 2009 2:01 pm 
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I have noticed an ominous horizontal hairline in my mast at boom height going 75 % of the circumference. Is this a serious problem???

Photos attached.


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Mast 2.jpg
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Mast 3.jpg
Mast 3.jpg [ 89.18 KiB | Viewed 1089 times ]
Mast 1.jpg
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Philip Leahy
F-38 ex Manchester, MA.
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 Post subject: Re: Mast Hairline Crack
PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 7:15 pm 
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Location: Sunny Florida
Philip,

Looks like you repainted the mast in the past or somebody else did. I dont see anyway to check out the problem other than striping the surface and see how far it goes into the mast. Could be the filler just cracked because it was to thick. Good luck. Regards Numbknots

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 Post subject: Re: Mast Hairline Crack
PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 9:08 pm 
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Just purchased the boat so I don't know the history. This probably got past the surveyor, I certainly didn't notice it at the time. Any idea on the how these masts are constructed...would one expect a horizontal hairline crack like this?

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Philip Leahy
F-38 ex Manchester, MA.


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 Post subject: Re: Mast Hairline Crack
PostPosted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 10:05 pm 
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philipl wrote:
Just purchased the boat so I don't know the history. This probably got past the surveyor, I certainly didn't notice it at the time. Any idea on the how these masts are constructed...would one expect a horizontal hairline crack like this?


Yes, hairline cracks are normal for freedom masts. It has been discussed at great length at freedom yahoo group.

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 Post subject: Re: Mast Hairline Crack
PostPosted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 3:34 am 
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Location: Enkhuizen, the Netherlands, EU
Philip,

Your hairline crack looks different from the normal Freedom cracks which are usually all over the place. If you have no other horizontal hairline cracks that means your mast is repainted with a good product providing the necessary elasticity to keep the cracks under the surface.
Your crack seems related to the slab of carbon fiber put around the mast to reinforce the gooseneck area. I would watch it carefully and perhaps open up a small portion of the crack to see where it goes. The gooseneck attachment slab is known to detach from the mast occasionally. Fortunately, carbon fiber is easily repaired.

Good luck

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Michel Capel, Freedom 44 #4 1981 'Alabama Queen', NED8188, cat ketch with wishbones, home port Enkhuizen, the Netherlands, 52*42.238'N 005*18.154'E.


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 Post subject: Re: Mast Hairline Crack
PostPosted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 7:52 am 
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I hope it is not serious... When we bought our 1987 F 36/38 in 1992 the surveyor told me that was a crack in the fairing at the gooseneck fitting. Said it was of no consequence. My mast, now 22 years old, has not yet broken. Let us know if you investigate further...

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Kerry Nevins
Gloucester Point, VA


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 Post subject: Re: Mast Hairline Crack
PostPosted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 2:20 pm 
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Phew...doesn't sound too bad. I will try to find that yahoo forum discussion. Thank you for the comments.

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Philip Leahy
F-38 ex Manchester, MA.


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 Post subject: Re: Mast Hairline Crack
PostPosted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 10:53 pm 
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Location: Naramata, BC
I'm looking at purchasing a F25. The mast seems to be nothing but cracks!

The seller says this is perfectly natural for Freedom masts. I wonder what the surveyor will say?

Hopefully this is just all surface weathering, and the mast itself is still good. Hate to think of the cost of replacing one if it ever decided to give up the ghost. Is there any way to tell of a carbon fiber mast is in poor shape other than having it x-rayed?


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F25 "Small Axe"
Okanagan Lake, BC
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 Post subject: Re: Mast Hairline Crack
PostPosted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 5:33 pm 
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Location: Mull 28 - "Impulse" on NW Creek in New Bern, NC
Are the cracks to a round mast, or a wing mast? My '82 wing mast had no cracks, except at the filler that faired in the thickened band where the gooseneck attached.


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 Post subject: Re: Mast Hairline Crack
PostPosted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 5:38 pm 
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Location: Naramata, BC
This is a 1984 round mast boat.

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