Posted by Charlie (cskidwain@…>)
Does any one remember the discusion that we had some time ago about
the cracks in the fiber masts. I dont remember if this was a concern
or not. I cant seem to find the previous messages.
Thanks
Charlie
Freedom 21
Posted by laurens visser (laurensvisser@…>)
as far as i am aware, small horizontal cracks are ok
more worrysome would be vertical cracks. which could indicate your masts are suffering from “heatsoak”.
that is what i was told to watch out for when i bought my 25y old f35 last december
Charlie <cskidwain@…> wrote:
Does any one remember the discusion that we had some time ago aboutthe cracks in the fiber masts. I dont remember if this was a concernor not. I cant seem to find the previous messages.ThanksCharlieFreedom 21
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Posted by lance_ryley (lance_ryley@…>)
Concur with what Laurens said. On the older freedom masts, they were
coated with a black putty which develops horizontal cracks that are
cosmetic in nature. I was told to not even bother trying to fix them
because they’d reappear. I think the newer, white masts are
awlgripped. These could develop cracks too, but it’s the sounding of
the mast that is important. A surveyor will tap it listening for
dead spots. Laurens probably right about vertical cracks. That could
indicate some sort of longitudinal delamination, and that I’d be
wary of.
Lance
— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, laurens visser
<laurensvisser@y…> wrote:
as far as i am aware, small horizontal cracks are ok
more worrysome would be vertical cracks. which could indicate your
masts are suffering from “heatsoak”.
that is what i was told to watch out for when i bought my 25y old
f35 last decemberCharlie <cskidwain@y…> wrote:
Does any one remember the discusion that we had some time ago about
the cracks in the fiber masts. I dont remember if this was a
concern
or not. I cant seem to find the previous messages.
Thanks
Charlie
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Posted by Alan Kusinitz (akusinitz@…>)
When I purchased my F-33 I consulted with Ted Van Dusen of Composite Engineering as an expert in carbon fiber masts including freestanding and familiar with Freedoms to a degree. Recently I also discussed the mast construction with Eric Sponberg who was at Freedom/TPI when the early carbon fiber masts were constructed including those for the F-33 and is a designer of freestanding masts.
My understanding is the mast has internal and external wraps of glass going around the bulk of the mast which is longitudinal carbon fiber. The exterior was coated with some sort of gelcoat/putty. The wrapping due to the flexing of the mast creates these horizontal small cracks and is not structural. If you saw cracks in other directions or inside the mast (I examined mine while out of the boat) or if the gaps/width of the gaps was large then there might be a problem. Sounds like they changed the construction by the time of the Mull designed boats so the cracking does not occur or at least occurs less.
On my F-33 the original owner claimed to have Freedom convert the rig from the wishbones. The way it was done they cut a hole in the front of the masts to give them access to tighten a backing plate for the gooseneck. I’m wondering if anyone else has this arrangement for the goosneck as the later boats I’ve seen have thick wraparound external reinforcment for mounting the gooseneck and no hole cut in the mast. Despite these several inch holes I’ve seen no stress cracks other then the horizontal ones discussed above.
Alan F-33 Hull #51
----- Original Message -----
From: Charlie
To: freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2005 8:18 PM
Subject: [freedomyachts2003] Cracks in the mast
Does any one remember the discusion that we had some time ago aboutthe cracks in the fiber masts. I dont remember if this was a concernor not. I cant seem to find the previous messages.ThanksCharlieFreedom 21
Posted by Nigel Borrett (nigelborrett@…>)
— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, “Charlie” <cskidwain@y…>
wrote:
Does any one remember the discusion that we had some time ago about
the cracks in the fiber masts. I dont remember if this was a
concern
or not. I cant seem to find the previous messages.
Thanks
Charlie
Freedom 21
Hi
The consenus of opinion is that if you spend time filling the cracks
in the surface of the nast as it flexes under ousage the filler will
just fall out .
I’ve got horizontal cracks along the length of the mast and there
does not seem to be any loss in strength ( ie when i occasionally
broach under spinnaker and the boom fills with water the mast has
not broken yet)
yours
Nigel ( Freedom 21 twin lifting keel UK ‘Rockin’)