GP14 Sailing Forums Forum FOAM FILLING MAST

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    • #13099
      PETER ABRAHAMS
      Participant

      I recall that some time ago in the magazine or newsletter a suggestion was made that there could be a way of foam filling the mast without impeding the halliards. Was this idea ever taken through to completion? If so, I would be grateful if someone could please guide me to the method and instructions. The purpose of this idea is to prevent or delay inversion after a capsize. Hope someone can help, thanks a lot, Peter.

    • #13100
      Oliver Shaw
      Moderator

      I also vaguely recollect that,  and I have the impression that it was either an article or a letter which appeared in an electronic (emailed) Newsletter rather than in Mainsail,  and tantalisingly it was only the first part  –  and the second part which would have given all the details never appeared.

      I also vaguely recollect that I replied to it.

      Even more vaguely I think the writer may perhaps have been Teddy Taylor.

      My own solution,  with a modern boat,  is to use the fairly standard 9-litre masthead float,  on a suitable halliard,  rigged so as to keep the bottom as well as the top tight against the mast.   Crewsaver is one make,  but not the only one.   It is not intended to be sufficient to prevent inversion,  but it does buy time,  to allow the competent helmsman to take the necessary action to right the boat before inversion occurs.

       

      Oliver

       

       

       

    • #13101
      PETER ABRAHAMS
      Participant

      <p class=”MsoNormal” style=”background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;”><span style=”font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: ‘Helvetica’,sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: ‘Times New Roman’; color: black;”>Oliver, thank you. When you say rigged on a suitable halliard, I imagine that you mean that you raise the mast head float on the mainsail halliard (attached to the headboard) and attach another rope to the float bottom and cleat it at the mast bottom.  Trust that’s so?</span></p>
      <p class=”MsoNormal” style=”background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;”><span style=”font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: ‘Helvetica’,sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: ‘Times New Roman’; color: black;”>Also, do you know how to contact Teddy Taylor to follow up his original idea, if it was him?</span></p>
      <p class=”MsoNormal” style=”background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;”><span style=”font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: ‘Helvetica’,sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: ‘Times New Roman’; color: black;”>You can guess perhaps I was sailing on Saturday and got dunked again, even with a reefed mainsail. Managed to collect my points first though and the rescue crew was magnificent.</span></p>
      <p class=”MsoNormal” style=”background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;”><span style=”font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: ‘Helvetica’,sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: ‘Times New Roman’; color: black;”>All the best, Peter.</span></p>

    • #13102
      PETER ABRAHAMS
      Participant

      Oh dear, not sure how my response got so mangled. Anyway, does this work better?

      <span style=”color: #555555; font-family: ‘Source Sans Pro’, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; background-color: #fbfbfb;”>Oliver, thank you. When you say rigged on a suitable halliard, I imagine that you mean that you raise the mast head float on the mainsail halliard (attached to the headboard) and attach another rope to the float bottom and cleat it at the mast bottom.  Trust that’s so?</span>

      <span style=”color: #555555; font-family: ‘Source Sans Pro’, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; background-color: #fbfbfb;”>Also, do you know how to contact Teddy Taylor to follow up his original idea, if it was him?</span>

      <span style=”color: #555555; font-family: ‘Source Sans Pro’, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; background-color: #fbfbfb;”>You can guess perhaps I was sailing on Saturday and got dunked again, even with a reefed mainsail. Managed to collect my points first though and the rescue crew was magnificent.</span>

      All the best, Peter.

    • #13105
      Oliver Shaw
      Moderator

      No;  its own dedicated halliard.   That way the buoyancy stays at the top of the mast,  where it is needed,  even when the mainsail is either reefed or lowered.

      See my paper entitled “Suitability for Cruising & Single-handing” in the Members’ Library on this side.    One section of that deals with masthead buoyancy,  and includes a page of photos showing the carefully designed halliard arrangement.

      http://gp14.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Suitability-for-Cruising-Single-handing.pdf

       

      Oliver

    • #13520
      Arthur
      Participant

      I would never use the expanding foam stuff for filling a mast, especially a wooden on. the expanding foam will trap moisture over time and cause either rot in wood or corrosion in aluminum. It may also, someday, hold more water than it is buoyant if left in water too long. I can only assume that a few weeks in bright sunlight would be needed to dry it out.

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