Hello,

yes there are several Santorins (probably only sloops) that have a main mast with a backing aluminum bar (inside the mast) at the front bottom, and bolted with 4 stainless steel bolts (with SS and nylon washers).

It happened once that one of the first Santorins (sloop but not the one our unknown writer talks about)  came back from its maiden cruising navigation with the front bottom part of the main mast collapsed. The aluminum had suffered too much compression and showed slight wrinkles.

The vessel was not showing grounding signs, and no evidence of a bad mast setting (installing the mastfoot not flat on deck, but too much on the front edge) was found.

The cause was probably the vessel beating in strong winds and choppy seas, AND a too thin skin at the bottom of the extrusion. Why only at the bottom?

For those who are not familiar with aluminum extrusion process, and to make it short:

In the aluminum factory, the aluminum alloy, warmed up (but not melting, otherwise this is cast aluminum), is pushed through a matrix with the shape of the mast's profile.

This "tube" is then rolling on roller bars and "strechted" to make it "straight" and not twisted or curved.

During the stretching process, it is possible that the thickness of the aluminum shows too thin areas, or too much curve, or too much twist. The extrusion is thus rejected and recycled.

The faulty mast was probably made of an extrusion that "escaped" the checking process.

So, AMEL decided to install a piece of aluminum of about 50 cm length, 2cm thickness, with the shape of the curved front face of the mast, inside the mast, stepped on the mast's sole, and bolted with 4 S/S bolts.

I cannot tell how many Santorins were treated by AMEL like this. However, this may concern the Santorins sloop with masts of the same batch. AMEL had extrusions made by 20 or 30 units, so this may affect only the Santorins  sloops delivered with masts of the same batch.

This means maybe only 7 or 8 Santorins sloops of 1990/1991.

Why only sloops? Because the compression is higher with a sloop as there is more sail area on the mast than on a kectch main mast.

I'm sure AMEL did the right thing when they (Captain Amel and Jacques Carteau) decided to make this reinforcement system.

Just like when AMEL decided to make a recall on all the AMEL 54 main masts...

Now, for those who own a Santorin sloop and read this post, I'm sure you will have a close look at your mast foot !!

Like Craig, I can't wait to know who set this question... I may give him a lot more answers about the whole vessel (this is called a survey).

And this is definitely the right behavior on this forum.

Olivier.

On Sunday, June 11, 2017 3:25 PM, "Ric Gottschalk ric@... [amelyachtowners]" <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:

 

No bolts on my sloop mast foot. SN 24 1990

Ric Gottschalk

Kitchen Magic Refacers, Inc

Office 410-923-5800

Fax 410-923-5802

On Jun 11, 2017, at 9:02 AM, 'Bill & Judy Rouse' yahoogroups@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:

 

I agree with Eric. Contact Olivier Beaute gmail.com>

I also agree with Craig...I do not believe those bolts are original.

Best,

CW Bill Rouse
Admiral, Texas Navy
Commander Emeritus
Amel School www.amelschool.com
720 Winnie St
Galveston Island, TX 77550
+1(832) 380-4970

On Sat, Jun 10, 2017 at 5:59 PM, 'sailormon' kimberlite@... [amelyachtowners] <amelyachtowners@...> wrote:

 

HI,

If you are considering this boat, why don’t you contact  Olivier to look at the boat?

He does not live too far away.

Fair Winds

Eric

Kimberlite Amel Super Maramu #376

 

 

From: amelyachtowners@yahoogroups. com [mailto:amelyachtowners@ yahoogroups.com]
Sent: Saturday, June 10, 2017 6:22 PM
To: amelyachtowners@yahoogroups. com
Subject: [Amel Yacht Owners] Re: Sloop rig santorin, Stainless steel bolts on the mast foot?

 

 

Perhaps you could introduce yourself - are you shopping for an Amel? What's your name? home port, etc.

There are no bolts on the forward face of the original Santorin mast.

Craig, SN#68 Sangaris

---In amelyachtowners@yahoogroups. com, <no_reply@...> wrote :

Hi every body and thank you in advance for sharin your knowledge!

 

I have visited a 1991 sloop rigged Santorin in La Rochelle couple days ago.

The boat is fine. But i have been very surprised by discovering on the forward face of the mast foot three big stainless steel bolts.

Is it a standard feature?

What is its purpose?

The paint on the mast was tearing around these bolts, is this a sign of ss/aluminium bad neighbourhood?