Crossbar repair?H18

I was stepping the mast and noticed a hairline crack/split running under the mast base. Looks like if I removed the mast base the crossbar would fall into 2 pieces. I m looking for a donor boat or used crossbar but wondered if anyone has repaired this safely?
Thanks, Bill

I have gone through a few crossbars on my 18. All eventually failed at the mast step (actually, the crossbars never "failed", I replaced them before they did). Your best bet is probably to go online and see if you can find a used one. I think I got my last one, fully assembled, for around $150.

Otherwise, I would take the mast step off the cross bar so you can give it a thorough inspection. If the crack is small, you may be able to stop it before it grows by drilling a small hole at the end of the crack. I did this with a crack on my 17 cross bar. I don't know if it helped or not, but the crack didn't grow any further.

sm

SRM, I found a replacement crossbar. 2X what you paid. I'm in the process of removing the old one. How do you remove the inner bolts? The outers were easy but the inner appear to be in the crossbar and the nuts are in a metal channel under the lip of the hull.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks, Bill

To remove the cross bar, use a 9/16th " long socket, and undo the nuts underneath the lip of the hulls, (outer.) Then use 3/8th " Allen Key for the inner, but it needs to be a professional style key, not the 'toys' that some hardware stores sell. Remember to retighten after two sessions of sailing. Good luck.

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The inner bolts (socket head) are a bit of a pain to remove. The bolts actually come up from the bottom and thread into a fitting mounted inside the crossbar. The head of the bolt seats in the steel channel found in the lip on the underside of the hull. As the previous poster said, you will need an allen wrench to remove these bolts. We actually took an allen wrench, chopped the bent portion off, and inserted it into a socket rachet wrench. Much easier than pulling the allen wrench out of the bolt head after every 1/2 turn.

It's probably best to just slightly loosen the outside bolts and then remove the inner bolts. I would also suggest at the very least, loosening the rear crossbar bolts to allow the hulls to move around. Also, when re-installing, get the inner bolts started first before installing and tightening the outer bolts. It would also be a good idea to do a "dry run" with the bolts in the cross bar before assembly to make sure the threads are clean.

sm

Gotta say, for an x mekanik this is bad, I assumed(by braile)the inners were the same as the outters. After your headsup and me removing my head from my assumption-front bar is off. 3/8 bolt with 5/16 socket head. They weren't even tight. I wish I could say I would have leaned under and looked eventually, but thanks for your replies.
Bill

Hey Bill,
I hope all is going well up there in the Delta. I feel like I need a trip to Lost Isle soon!! Lube up those bolts with some grease before you install them so they don't gall the threads of the insert. I've had that problem with old X-bars. It'll save you a pain in your assumption down the line!!

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I've got a crossbar that I'll sell you for $100 + shipping. It's in great shape with no cracks. Email me if you're interested.

Trey
[email protected]
(919)-302-0880

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Trey Brown
www.velocitysailing.com
2006 N20 1017
1998 H16 102698
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Trey, thank you for the reply and offer. A fellow in NM had one. He got a big surprise when it came to shipping, over $100. That was from NM to Calif.
Again thanks, Bill