New Daysailer I with repaired mast

[daysailer12]

Hello, this is my first post on the forum. I was just given a Daysailer I, early 1960s (sail #881, molded seats, no thwarts, mast jack). The mast broke above the cuddy where the halyard cleats attached to the mast at some point and was repaired. There is some cement like material added near the break. Looking up the mast through the hole for the mast jack there is solid material (wood?) inside the mast beginning about 6" up (is this normal or maybe part of the repair?). There is also some rub wear at the point the mast enters the cuddy. The last owner said that the repair held during high wind sailing. I'll be taking my little kids out sailing and don't want the mast to come down.

Any opinions on what I should do? I could replace the mast. Or I could add a hinged tabernacle at the break (it will be a few inches higher than normal installation). Someone suggested adding external metal brackets riveted across the repair. Thanks for any help!

MastJoint2.JPG (137.88 KiB) Viewed 3349 times

MastJoint.JPG (134.52 KiB) Viewed 3349 times

RubWear.JPG (147.08 KiB) Viewed 3349 times

[GreenLake]

If a keel step mast breaks at the point where it enters the cuddy then inserting a solid piece of wood spanning the break should be a reasonable repair. If the wood did nothing more than fix the bottom end of the top half of the mast in place it would just mimic what a tabernacle does for a deck stepped mast (except a tabernacle also allows the mast to hinge).

If the wood appears solid, and does extend somewhat upward of the break I would not be surprised to find out that the repair has proven itself. The break seems to be a bit above the deck level, again, no reason why that wouldn't work, assuming the wood extends a bit past the break (and is in good condition; no dry rot, for example). I wouldn't worry about the the place where some bit has rubbed off, as long as there's solid wood inside.

Now, this kind of armchair diagnosis is worth just as much as you are paying for it: it's difficult to fully judge anything based on photos and description. It might be a sensible thing to do to go out and sail this boat a few times without your kids in different conditions, first. That would give you an idea whether the previous owner is correct and, more importantly, whether everything else works as it should.

Things to inspect are the rivets that hold the tangs where the shrouds and forestay attach. Look for loose ones, or evidence of corrosion. Also any bends, cracks etc. further up the mast. Then inspect the spreaders, and shrouds (rust, even a bit, near the fittings, broken or cracked strands of wire) and the chain-plates (as well as the screws that attach them to the hull).

Finally all the other parts that need to work to get the boat out on the water and safely home again. It's easy to be distracted by something that's this much "in your face", but it wouldn't be the first repair (or jury rig) that proved stronger than the next weak link.

Anyway, welcome to the forum!