Hi all,
Just found a crack in my mast behind the starboard spreader bracket. It goes through the front 3 rivets and just a little above and below the bracket. I have the compression tube add-on in the mast already.
Anyways, while trying to decide between a new mast and trying to get this one fixed, I called Hall Spars and talked to Cory. He says I Can weld the mast, as long as I put a backing plate behind the crack and the weld touches this backing plate while sealing the crack. Then, rivet the edges of the backing plate. Does this make sense? I want to do it this way (at least until I can get a new one), but then I read and hear that you must retemper the mast, but he says no need to with the plate.
Any suggestions, or anyone with experience that had their mast welded with a backing plate?
I also considered to just put a sleave in it, like discussed above, but worried it won't bend enough there, and just cause more problems above and below the sleave.
Also, would love to just buy a new tube from Rigrite, but they are having their own problems right now....
Thanks for the info...
