Finberglass mast on sailboat is splintering. What do i do?

Question

It is old and the fiberglass is coming off. I have resin, should i just paint a coat over? What are my options?

Answer 1

There are some very serious stress issues in Sailboat Masts.  You haven't indicated if Fiberglass is the construction or a protective coating.  If it is solid glass you need to consider replacement.  

The mast has to resist bending.  The bottom and top are firmly fixed.  (The top by stays and spreaders.)  The only place the load, sufficient to propel the boat, can react is in the center.  If your mast is splintered you have cracks going right thru this area where you need the greatest strength.  (The compressive load generated by the stays will amplify the weakness.

Answer 2

1. take mast off sailboat if possible

2.  give it a sanding so it is evened out, try to avoid sanding all the way through the fiberglass, but make it smooth as possible

3.  if mast off boat, put on saw horses and apply thin coating of epoxy resin, if still on the boat, do the best you can but it will be in sections at a time (start at top)

4.  after resin cures, coat with gelcoat.  you can paint it on with a brush, roll and tip or spray.  this gelcoat protects the epoxy resin and fiberglass

5.  you can buff the gelcoat if you want to make it shine like new money

6.  you can also wax it with a good wax like 3m product for extra protection ,but this is optional

Answer 3

Masts are made to bend. If they didn't you would have no tuning - slow boats.

What you have is obviously cosmetic. I would sand the mast lightly to remove splinters and paint an epoxy resin on evenly. If you put gel coat on a mast I strongly suspect it will fracture all over the place in a very short period of time as gel coat doesn't deal well with stress.

If the timber looks well youd be best to just leave it, if you want to paint it you'll want to use all grip and all the trimmings (primers etc) available at awlgrip.com

Good luck!