My wife and I were lowering the mast on our 2001 getaway when the mast came off the ball while she was at the back of the boat and I was on the tramp lowering it. It fell about 10 feet and would have killed her if it hit her. Anyone had this issue before. It was pinned and at a 90 degree angle. I ordered a mast stepper. I noticed a lot of flex in the mast as I was walking back holding it on the tramp. don't want this to happen again. I'm going to buy a micrometer to see if the ball is worn or if I need to replace the mast base. I also have significant cracking in the comp tip. VERY DISAPPOINTED in the comp tip. I'm thinking with swallowing my pride and buying a new mast. I don't want to deal with the comp tip anymore. Shouldn't have let my 16 go. Could have poached my all aluminum mast from it (now seeing how awesome it was).
See ya on the water.