[Douglas]

Hi Joe, my boat and mast went through the Asian Tsunami, and suffered mast damage, because both sailboats on both sides of me were rolling opposite directions at the same time,,, needless to say our masts and spreaders clashed.

When the stick was pulled and set on blocks in a neutral position, a definate thwartship long curve could be seen.

The yard workers called it "a set bend", and said that it had to be replaced. I wrote to this forum, for answers, and consulted many sources, the opinion of many was that the mast could be straightened,,,,, someone said that many masts that are extruded come slightly bent from the factory anyway !

As long as the tube is not kinked or rippled, and normal shroud tuning can straighten out the bend, you need not fear to use it .

Douglas