Tabernacle Bent

[davidpm]

O'day 25 the mast fell down.
The damage to the tabernacle seems minimal.
Any suggestions on how to repair?
Do you think it has to be taken off the boat? The bedding seems fine, no leaks below.

I don't know what that fat washer and bolt is. It is just a part that was laying their it is not attached.

[bljones]

Lay a piece of steel "L " channel alongside the outside of the aluminum mast step, and clamp together with a c-clamp at the undamaged end. Now use a c-clamp and clamp it together at the damaged end- it should pull back into shape pretty easily. If you're not worried about it looking pretty, use a 5 lb sledge and a heavy brass drift to pound it back into something resembling the right shape.

[Gene T]

Looks like a job for a large crescent wrench. Shouldn't be that difficult to straighten right where it is.

Gene

[davidpm]

That's about what I had in mind, just checking in case someone else sees something I didn't.

[tager]

Throw a coin in there this time.

[davidpm]

Originally Posted by tager

Throw a coin in there this time.

I'll do that from now on. I'm just getting used to the idea of having a camera with me all the time.

[Bene505]

Is the fat washer a slide stop for a sail track on the mast? Judging by the stains slightly above it in the picture, it's been there for quite some time.

Use a couple vice grips. One located where there is no bend, as close to the bent area as possible -- to keep that part from bending. The other to torque the bent part back in place. Repeat with both, refinine the bends as you get a feel for how to bend part of it and keep the other part from bending.

Regards,
Brad