Interesting Mast design

Hi,

I just saw a mast on a sailboat made completely out of steel pipe. It looked to be approximately 75mm (3") in diametre and used 3 uprights arranged in a triangle profile with the uprights being 300mm (12") centre to centre. In between the steel pipe uprights was smaller steel pipe approx 25mm (1") in diametre welded in a as bracing.

It looked incredable easy to fabricate, strong, easy to repair, easy to climb, easy to affix rigging to with out using dis-similar metals, and most of all cheap!!

The only downside to the design was the mast may create some turbulance, and it gave the boat a slightly messy appearance.

Has anyone had any experinace with this type of mast, or has anyone got any ideas on this designs advantages/disadvantages??

Any information would be greatly appreciated. Please post a reply or e-mail me: mytqik@dodo.com.au

Yours sincerely

Randal Tait

 

was that...

on a yacht called "Merlin" by any chance?

I met the boat (and its owner "Andy" I believe) in the Canaries about 8 years ago, its mast basically resembles one of those tall cranes that put buildings up - except as you say it is triangular.

I seem to remember it was v noisy in the wind, and it did look strange - I bet the windage is huge - not to mention the turbulance across the surface of the sail.

The owner had bought her from a home builder and had not actually sailed her very far so was unable to comment.

cheers

Paul

 

Uni assignment

would you be able to give me any information on the key service conditions that a yacht mast would face?

i have an assignment and i need to select a suitable polymer to construct the yacht mast from

any help would be great

thanks

 

mytqik

The design you describe is common on warships where weight reduction is very important. So masts carrying enormous radar scanners plus all the other fittings have the centre of gravity rather high. A simple circular mast would whip and would rely on stays that would be too susceptible to damage and so goodbye mast. They tend to be much lighter but more expensive due to the labour in making them. But if Governments pay a couple of hundred bucks for a hammer then what the hell!

Michael