I have a couple of problems with my 1986 Super Spars mast on 3381.  Last night I sheered the gooseneck bracket off. I had just gybed and was pulling the mainsail back in.  The crew was was kind enough to protect the boat with her back so no damage was done as it fell.  The first question is the new alloy Super Spars gooseneck a direct replacement for the old stainless version?

Secondly I spliced a new jib halyard onto the wire part on Sunday.  As I dropped the jib, with some difficultly I noticed that the new halyard was getting ripped to bits by the inside of the mast where it has been worn away by the wire part of the halyard.  If other people have had this problem how have they dealt with it?

thanks

Fribbs,

If the wire of the halyard is ripping the rope tail to pieces it is most likely to be broken strands in the wire loop. Unfortunately, there is only one solution - new wire.

Hi Alastair

It's the mast that is chaffing the rope tail.  It's acting like a clam cleat with razor sharp edges.  I have had a chat with Super Spars and they recommend using a round file to smooth the slot inside the mast that the wire has cut into.

thanks for your help

Sorry should have been Alistair.

There is a huge difference in price for the Super Spars gooseneck, 
£25.85 from P&B, 
whilst only £21.34 from, dare I say it, LDC!

Sorry, it was the way I read your post. A Dremmel would make quick work of the filing job and then you have it for all the other boat-related tasks in the future - if you haven't already got one!

Thanks Alistair

I have a dremmel, but hadn't thought about using it.  Brill idea!  Now where is it?

I had a similar issue with mine - acompanied by irational thoughts of eventually weakening the mast by sawing through it!
One option that came to mind was installing a stainless plate -  the superspar ones used for stregthening the mast where the shrouds key in - but the wire /halyard might wear more quickly - ended up putting a couple of mm extra layers of carbon around the apperture to slow the process down.

Hi Nick

I have appropriate 'rat tail' files - the filing is quick and simple, go for it! Let me know when you need them if you decide to go that route.

Nick, how did the gosseneck fail? rivets rotten or what? Think you ought to have a very good look at other rivets on the spar to see if you need to replace them too, whether it be same size because the rivets are dissolving, or a size up because the alloy on the mast is a bit sick...

Hi Jim

All the rivets are in solidly in place.  The bracket sheered through!

Nick

Hi Ben
I'd love to borrow the files.  Are you around on Sunday?