Mast dent

[Cat Nap]

One of our oats lost it's mast in a storm the other day for reasons known.
The mast was not bent but one of the spreaders was bent.
In the process of the spreader bending it caused a dent in the mast. The dent is about 3in in diameter and about an eight of an inch deep.
Is the past save able??
Could a plate be riveted over the dent and then the spreader re attached??
Thanks for the info. Cat Nap

[Brion Toss]

Hello,
The significance of a dent varies with depth, breadth, sharpness, and location. Based on the location alone, this one is serious. If the bends inward are sharply defined, it is worse. A plate bridging the area might restore full integrity, but unless it were done with scrupulous skill, you would be left with dangerous stress risers. So it's a big maybe.
Further, it is a bit unlikely that there was sufficient energy to dent the mast, but not to damage anything else. Look closer, for harder-to-spot effects.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss