Spliced mast - original or repair?

[stipakb]

I viewed a Wauquiez 33 recently and observed it had a splice in the mast:

http://web.pdx.edu/~d1bs/temp/MastSplice.jpg

I don't recall ever seeing a boat like that with a splice in the spar, so I am wondering if this is the way that the Wauquiez 33 was built, or if this was perhaps a repair or a modification.

So, my questions are:

• Is this original construction or a repair/alteration?
• Whether original or altered, does this compromise the strength of the spar?
• What other advantages/disadvantages are there to this construction?

[celenoglu]

Some manufacturers used this technique for their masts. I have not seen or heard any problems due to this type of connection.

[US27inKS]

I honestly don't know a thing about spliced spars, but it did look as if the spreaders are not angled upward properly. Could be the angle of the photo, but flat or downward spreaders are an indication of rig problems and/or an improperly rigged boat. Did you notice the angle of the spreaders?

[39512]

Spars are often spliced in order to fit into anodizing tanks. It is common practice and will cause no problems.

[kaluvic]

I don’t know anything about this particular boat but splices in aluminum masts over 40ft are very common.

[Jeff_H]

It hard to say but that looks like a repair rather than original. It would be very unusual to see a mast made that way for a boat this size.

BTW: Forum Rules prohibit posting the same post in two locations. Please refrain from doing so in the future.

Respectfully,

Jeff

[JohnRPollard]

stipakb,

I merged your duplicate threads into a single one. Please avoid posting duplicate threads -- it can get confusing tracking the replies.

[hellosailor]

You'd need to check for that boat. Sometimes the problem is the original location of the factory, or the boat when a replacement mast has to be shipped. Over-the-road trucking had 40-45' length limits and anything longer went oversize at steep cost penalties, so sometimes spars "had" to be shipped in two pieces and spliced.

If the mast is not bendy, and the splice is done properly, in theory it is perfectly good. if the PO or the broker claims they do not know whether this is original--they're either inept or shamming. That's the kind of thing a boat owner and seller really SHOULD know, it they have any grasp about mechanical things on their boat. (You know, like changing the oil, charging the batteries, pumping the bilge.)

[Faster]

Such a splice was not uncommon 25 years ago.. our mast has the same, as have others I've seen.

That's not to say it couldn't have been a repair, but it's possible it was original.

[Saildoggie]

A sharp Surveyor or rigging expert could easily bless or fail such a connection in the mast.