I’m a Nonsuch novice, and recently noticed this on the spar. Is it possible the collar that all the blocks for the running rigging attach to has rotated and dinged the spar?
How serious is a ding at this point on the spar? In another thread I found the document that discussed how holes drilled in the lower part of the mast are a strength concern, and it’s made me somewhat nervous.
In general, can these spars be repaired or replaced anymore?
Thank you,
Jake
Yes, the mast collar can rotate countercockwise because of halyard pulling on the pulley overtime. Mike Quill has a new mast collar with more modern hardware attached! The ding or scratch is another issue.Bob Horne, 1989 N26C, #249, ENCORE, Pocasset, MA.
Dave King,
Hello,
My mast collar (fairlead collar?) has also rotated and come up about a half inch. I was going to try and reposition the old one. There are two holes, about 3/8 dia, one on each side of the seam. The holes are not threaded. Anyone know what they are for? why can’t I tap these two holes and install set screws? Also, there is old gray bedding compound behind the collar. I looks like the deck/hull joint adhesive. does anyone know if it is? I can’t find it named in any of the owners docs that came with the boat.
Thanks,
NS22 #35, SUEY, Alameda CA
These collars need to be isolated from the aluminium mast and often rubber can be found between them. If you remove or replace , use 3m UV4000 as a gasket . It will prevent collar rotation and act as a galvanic insulation.
Mike Q has new collars if you need ome
Thanks Thor.
Dave
Fairlead Mast Collar
The fairlead collar (the rigging blocks attach to it) on my Nonsuch 30U broke after sailing 8 hours double reefed, winds 20-25K on a beam reach. The tension on the halyard caused the collar to rotate counterclockwise perhaps an inch, causing the halyard to pull from the side of the turning sheave on the collar. I heard the collar break from the cockpit while I was trying to shake out the reef and raise the sail after the wind had subsided. The break was in the casting where it turns 90 degrees to receive the bolts on the after side. Prior to this, there had been very little movement of the collar during the tens years of sailing Moonbeam. I think I noticed it moving a half inch twice over a 5 year period. I purchased a new collar from Mike Quill. Mike recommended I use 3M 5200 on the ears of the collar. I hesitated to use this permanent sealant so I used 3M 4200, which is considered semi-permanent. After sailing four more days in the fall, The collar rotated one half inch. I now plan to use the 4200 sealant all the way around the collar including on top of the gasket which is used to form a barrier between the two different metals, mast and collar.
I am also concerned that the outer coating of the mast was scraped by the collar when it broke. I’m not sure what to do about the scrapes. Will this expose the metal under this coating?
I appreciate any thoughts from the group.
Rick Merullo
Nonsuch 30U 471
Manchester MA
Install a slightly thicker rubber isolator. I did that on the aluminum mast and all rotation stopped.
By some sheet neoprene, 1/32” thicker than what is there now, from McMaster-Carr. Glue the neoprene to the aluminum collar with rubber cement.
As a temporary anti-rotation fix, I ran a line from the halyard turning block to the Sampson post at the bow. The temporary line balanced the halyard’s rotational force
The rubber acts as a gasket and anti-rotation material.
Ward Woodruff
N33 #8 Margery
Niantic Bay, CT
Thank you Thor. I see the 3M 4000UV has twice the tensile strength as 3M 5200 and allows removal. I will try it this spring.
Rick Merullo
NS30U 471
Manchester MA
I found this 3M brochure on their adhesive sealants to be most informative.
https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/811831O/3m-adhesive-sealant-brochure.pdf
Rick Merullo
NS30U 471
Manchester MA
Please forgive my typo regarding 3M sealants. My message should read -I see the 3M 4000UV has twice the tensile strength as 3M 4200, not 3M 5200.
Nothing is permanent. For almost every chemical there is another one that will remove it.
I have used Debond on 5200 and it does work. I had a thru-hull to replace that was set in 5200.
Removing 3M 5200 - Practical Sailor (practical-sailor.com)
Peter Farley
Knot in a Hurry #328 U30
Keyport NJ
I removed and reinstalled my mast collar using a bicycle inner tube as a gasket. The price point was right (from the garbage) and it has worked fine for the past 10 years or so. I have had no rotation. Cut the tube in half at the valve and then cut it open resulting in a flattish piece of rubber. I taped it in place the then pulled the collar over it. Gluing it to the collar might have been a better solution. Even if you bought a tube, you are still getting off pretty cheap.
lloyd herman
Rendezvous, 30U
Port Washington, NY
