Came across this advice on Reddit. What do you all think?
My mast is in the storage now. So I could do this if it makes sense.
Older models have a bolt that goes thru the mast at the base inside front cabinet, remove the bolt and install a piece that is used to install spreaders , then a turnbuckle to fix your mast to the base to hold it on the boat.
Old system has a fatal flaw, makes a crack at the base and a big risk of loosing the mast.
A friend had to go thru it. The mast and wishbone are parts from an aluminum street light and really hard to build back.
Thanks,
Siva Surendira
NS26 “Inner Peace”
Jersey City, NJ
I understand the concern. I also picked up these scare stories and worried when I bought my first Nonsuch.
There were, in the early days, some issues with early masts that have long ago been fixed on the overwhelming majority of affected boats (although it is always possible that some have slipped through). What you’re hearing is an example of things getting warped as stories pass from second- to third- to nth-hand sources.
For example, the folks at Klacko Spars would probably be a bit surprised and hurt if you told them that the spars they provided as OEM to Hinterhoeller were street lightpoles. Having built for the C&C factory from which Hinterhoeller split off before they started also supplying Hinterhoeller, I think they’re pretty sure they were in the boat mast business.
There’s no need to get information second hand and somewhat garbled from sources like Reddit. For comprehensive and accurate information about our masts, go to www.Nonsuch.org, click on the MEMBERS tab, select MAINTENANCE and scroll down to the sections labeled “Hinterhoeller Memos” and “Spars and Rigging Technical Info”. You can scroll within those sectiosn to get a complete set of the original factory guidance on the early issues with masts that this Reddit thread is not quite correctly recounting.
International Nonsuch Association members can also, via a link at the top of the same MAINTENANCE page, contact the original factory rigger for the masts and wishbones for a consult that is covered under your membership fees. Mike Quill has been maintaining them from the beginning, and has records on many of the boats. Contact him with your boat information and there’s a very good chance he can tell you whether anything’s needed for your boat.
I had glanced at the 2 articles you highlighted when I bought CHEERS a little over a year ago but really appreciate your reminder of how much good info is provided by this association.
There is a video mentioned on how to examine a mast and I was wondering if anyone knows if that video is available anywhere. Also I am wondering if there are any actual engineering documents for designing and choosing materials for the masts and wishbone available? I am particularly interested in the safety factor designed into the spars. I am not concerned with a mast failure on a properly maintained cantilevered mast system, I just would like to see the numbers and see the video. Thanks
My understanding is that all the aluminum masts and wishbones were built by Klacko Spars of Ontario, Canada, https://klackospars.com/
Mike Quill has told me that the OEM carbon fiber masts and wishbones came from Composite Engineering - Van Dusen Racing Boats, https://composite-eng.com/
There are a few boats, e.g., mine, which were retrofitted with carbon masts for various reasons. I don’t know the provenance of those. My mast didn’t fail from any fatal flaw – I was told that a previous owner bent it beyond repair by snagging the topping lift on a buoy that was being used as a mark while cutting it too close rounding it during a San Francisco Bay race.
By the way, since bad things also happen now and then on conventional rigs, it’s quite possible to get insurance that includes mast replacement. You just have to work with your broker to find a policy that covers it. Never hurts.