North Mast Metal Collar Breaking

Yesterday when I was rigging my 6.8, I noticed a problem with the mast:
http://www.niksula.cs.hut.fi/~jmunkki/MISC/mast/ferrule.jpg

The metal band that keeps the top part from sliding down over the bottom has started to split from the bottom. It's not a very long crack yet, but it got me really worried.

The mast is exactly one year old, so unless they are extremely picky about the warranty period, it should still be under warranty. I have contact the dealer and I posted a note on the North discussion forum.

I bet someone else here has seen the same problem though: did the mast break or did you get it replaced before it did? Is it safe for me to sail this mast a few more times or will it just fail catastrophically and ruin my day when I least want it?

I was in contact with North Sails. The collar has to be replaced before the mast can be used again. I will get a warranty replacement.

The warranty is global, so it didn't matter that the mast was bought in Gergmany - the Finnish North Sails representative took care of the case.

I'm very happy about the way they handled this. I had a temporary replacement mast in my hands less than 24 hours after I reported the case. It doesn't get much better than that.

Sounds like they took care of you pretty well and like they have lots of experience with this issue (not too slick). I have the same problem with a 2000 North Xcellerator 60 that I used for one season. I bought it used at Windsurfing Hatteras. They had several demo/rental masts for sale (at not too good of a discount really) and I noticed it on another one I picked up, but was desperate (you know how it can be on vacation). Did the shop know about this issue at the time? You bet. Did they still try to sell all those demo masts? You bet. Was North going to credit them if they wouldn't? I doubt it. Was I stupid? You bet.

I put it away once I noticed the crack and bought a better mast this year that works better for my 6.6 and 5.8 anyway. It'll make a good flag pole. Live and learn. I owned another North mast with the same collar on it for years and it was always fine. Must have been a bad lot of collars or mfg problem.

I always wondered if it happened to anyone else.

Thanks for the info