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 Post subject: mast base damages
PostPosted: Sun Sep 10, 2017 1:30 am 
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Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2015 7:20 am
Posts: 21
Location: Hungary - Balaton Lake
Hello all,
my hc 16 mast base is damaged by corrosion, there is 2 cm area missing around 1 of the drills were to put rivets for mast step connection, also there are too many holes for useless rivets to plug.
so my question is do I have to try to repair it,
or if I cut away this area, let's say 9 cm of lenght reduction of the mast, do I will have any issue.
what's better?
advanced thanks.


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 Post subject: Re: mast base damages
PostPosted: Sun Sep 10, 2017 6:34 am 
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Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2016 4:35 am
Posts: 438
Location: Opelika/Lake Martin, Alabama
I would just replace it with a new one.

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Marty
1984 H16 Yellow Nationals Redline, "Yellow Fever"
Lake Martin, 'Bama.


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 Post subject: Re: mast base damages
PostPosted: Mon Sep 11, 2017 8:21 am 
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Site Admin

Joined: Tue May 27, 2003 12:44 pm
Posts: 15026
Location: Oceanside, California
Shortening the mast at the base will make a difference in wire lengths. Try to avoid it, but if you have to... the rig will be lower slightly.

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Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)


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 Post subject: Re: mast base damages
PostPosted: Mon Sep 11, 2017 3:13 pm 
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Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2015 7:20 am
Posts: 21
Location: Hungary - Balaton Lake
thanks Matt,


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 Post subject: Re: mast base damages
PostPosted: Mon Sep 11, 2017 6:02 pm 
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Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2016 4:35 am
Posts: 438
Location: Opelika/Lake Martin, Alabama
I thought this was talking about the actual base and not the mast itself, the actual base of the mast can be replaced. What about having the holes filled and welded up? An experienced aluminum welder can probably fix it up.

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Marty
1984 H16 Yellow Nationals Redline, "Yellow Fever"
Lake Martin, 'Bama.


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 Post subject: Re: mast base damages
PostPosted: Tue Sep 12, 2017 2:25 pm 
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Site Rank - Deck Hand

Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2015 7:20 am
Posts: 21
Location: Hungary - Balaton Lake
Actually i was a litle bit surprised about the answer " just get a new one"
anyway missunderstanding cleared..
Yes the options are shortcut the mast or welding , but DURAFIX it is also an option.
Do anyone have experienced this solution considering the mast repair ( base only )?


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 Post subject: Re: mast base damages
PostPosted: Tue Sep 12, 2017 3:45 pm 
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Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Mon Jun 05, 2017 7:05 pm
Posts: 105
Location: Franksville, WI.
Wow! I was blown away by that dura fix video, I will try to post the link here. I am just a home welder but I would never think of trying to weld something as thin as a soda can. There are other stores that sell their own version of this for just a few bucks, farm & fleet, fleet & farm, ace, northern tool etc. My biggest worry would be to not get it to hot. If aluminum gets to hot it will just melt into a puddle then your screwed, the video says 730 degrees. I thought aluminum has a lower melting point than that. Looks like he is just using a propane torch which get above 3000 degrees. I am going to try and play around with this at home just for kicks. Steve C.
http://durafix.com/demo/256.html


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 Post subject: Re: mast base damages
PostPosted: Wed Sep 13, 2017 5:39 am 
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Site Rank - Old Salt

Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2016 4:35 am
Posts: 438
Location: Opelika/Lake Martin, Alabama
That Durafix stuff looks like it would work! Never heard of it, I don't weld, but I think that stuff looks pretty easy to use. Thanks for sharing that video.

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Marty
1984 H16 Yellow Nationals Redline, "Yellow Fever"
Lake Martin, 'Bama.


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 Post subject: Re: mast base damages
PostPosted: Wed Sep 13, 2017 6:23 am 
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Hobie Approved Guru

Joined: Mon Jul 14, 2003 7:11 pm
Posts: 5197
Location: Detroit, MI
DuraFix rods are a blend of zinc and aluminum. They have a relatively low melting point compared to aluminum and using them is not nearly as easy as the video makes it seem.

There are many types and tempers (heat treatments) of aluminum. The castings are one type; the extrusions are another and are heat treated after extruding (the alloy is 6061-T6).

That being said, DuraFix is probably OK to fill old rivet holes - but you MUST have an absolutely clean surface for it to stick well. No corrosion, no oxides (anodizing) - and you need to heat the base metal to the melting point of the rod - which will remove the temper in that area of the extrusion.

There is no free lunch.


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 Post subject: Re: mast base damages
PostPosted: Wed Sep 20, 2017 6:07 am 
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Site Rank - Captain

Joined: Sun Jan 23, 2005 11:20 am
Posts: 132
Location: Sodus NY
The rivets holding the mast base on are not structural once the mast is up. They are critical when the mast is being raised. You can drill holes in different spots if you need to. Use 5200 or rtv to glue it in place and seal the extra holes. There is a foam plug in the mast that prevents it from filling with water but I like to seal it anyway.

It is absolutely critical that you don't hit the ball on the front of the cup and push or you will lever the mast base right off. See the other thread on mast raising. A kind of clean and jerk method will get the ball in the cup without hitting the front. A good mast link that hits on the sides is also a really good thing.
cheers
Bill


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