Got a mate who used to use a bit of duct tape around the joint when he put it ogether - seemed to work

Don't know if he still does - I usually find that my sails rig unusually and de rig and fix it - running your hand along the luff before you down haul is worth a try.


Off the subject
You gonna get some wind on KI tomorrow and Weds or what - where do you sail on a sse'r

Russh

is it a powerex??

mines as loose as a goose.

go the duct tape, this will also prevent sand entering join and glueing both sections aswell as keepin em together whilst riggin.

i stick the tape back on mast to remind me to use it.

also be carefully when adjusting mast extension with sail still on.


yes, it will snap and you wont get any warranty.

I tape my masts at the join every time I sail...

I would be VERY worried about snapping due to the mast separating, particularly when has separated by an INCH!!!

as Matthew said the mast MUST!!!! be completely connected if you don't then there is a great chance of this happening
use tape like Nebbs has mentioned if the fit is loose.
down hauling wont make the halves meet as the tension is off center with the mast
and the mast will bind up on 2 points.

easty said...

Doesn't downhauling the sail pull the masts back together? Obviously not, or this topic wouldn't exist.

Downhauling actually stops the mast halves from slotting back together, as it puts more curve in the mast and more pressure on points of contact of the inside and outside walls.

But you knew that already

taping the join also helps if you have to derig in the water after an equipment failure.

easty said...

Doesn't downhauling the sail pull the masts back together? Obviously not, or this topic wouldn't exist.

Some masts are so precisely engineered that the join is airtight, and when you slide the halves together, there's air pressure inside which pushes them apart a few cm. But if you hold them tight for a few seconds the air will find a way out, and the halves will stay together. I found this with my new X3.

In case you didn't get it by now, DO NOT SAIL IF THE MAST HALVES ARE NOT FITTING SNUGLY TOGETHER.

Wet Willy said...

easty said...

Doesn't downhauling the sail pull the masts back together? Obviously not, or this topic wouldn't exist.

Some masts are so precisely engineered that the join is airtight, and when you slide the halves together, there's air pressure inside which pushes them apart a few cm. But if you hold them tight for a few seconds the air will find a way out, and the halves will stay together.

Thanks for the explanation Wet Willy in overseas lands. I guess I've never had a mast engineered precisely enough, as I've never noticed them not joining together and staying together. A bonus of buying cheap stuff no doubt. But seriously I've had the same North Sting 430 for 6 years, used it consistently, and never noticed this happening. Bought a 400 sdm a couple of years ago which has had a fair workout and same story. Mind you I've never checked the join once I've rigged the sail, maybe I just don't go hard enough to break them.

Wet Willy said...

easty said...

Doesn't downhauling the sail pull the masts back together? Obviously not, or this topic wouldn't exist.

Some masts are so precisely engineered that the join is airtight, and when you slide the halves together, there's air pressure inside which pushes them apart a few cm. But if you hold them tight for a few seconds the air will find a way out, and the halves will stay together.

Just thinking about this (red wine and the rest of the week off makes you do that), but if this was so, wouldn't the airtight join, together with a small leak for the air to get out, together with the constant flexing of the mast while sailing creating a pump effect within the mast, contribute to masts sticking together? Which by the way I've never had happen. Must be the cheap masts again.
Also both my masts have holes in the top of the top section, plus the 400 is open at the top of the bottem section, surely most masts are like this, which would immediately let any compressed air out?
Disclaimer - I'm no engineer, had a red or two, and it's going to be windy tomorrow