FILENAMES: mast3.jpg mast4.jpg mast5.jpg DESCRIPTION: These are pictures showing the repair of a damaged boat mast. Posted by Ted Edwards . The following description was provided: ================================================================= Mast straightening Ted Edwards Ted_E@telus.net See also: mast3.jpg, mast4.jpg & mast5.jpg We supported the mast under the dent on a block of wood on a screw jack. The mast head was chained to a heavy stand. We used the duck bill spreader from my "porta-power" set placed inside the mast and positioned under the dent to apply outward force. A friend worked the pump while I leaned my full weight on the mast foot. The stand closest to the camera was a stop in case my weight proved too much. See mast3.jpg. When we had done all that was possible this way, I cobbled up the arrangement shown in mast4.jpg. The bottom of the U (on its side) shaped piece is welded to the upright piece. The upper piece is just tacked on so the joint could flex or break the tacks. The middle of the slightly curved upper was placed under the remaining dent. The jaws of the spreader were placed just inside the open end. This arrangement gave a mechanical advantage of 2:1. We repeated the straightening operation to get out as much as possible of the remaining dent. At this point I decided that we had done a fair bit and it was worth trying. mast5.jpg shows the straightened mast back on the boat. No, it isn't perfect but we weren't planning on entering the Americas cup either.