spinnaker ring on mast

This weekend while running in about 20 knots true, our spinnaker ring bent downward making it difficult to release the pole. This is the second time this has happened. Last time I was able to bend it back into place with a long lever, but I'm worried that it will break this time. Does anyone know what makes this happens? We were running very square when the occurred and there was no drama going on with the kite am.

I am thinking that this ring is slightly too large in diameter and is no sufficiently rigid, but on a run like that there is very little pressure on the pole.

Has anyone else had this problem? If so, what was the solution?

Thanks for your thoughts on this. What we noticed was that after it bent down, the pole was slightly twisted in its setting such that the beak was sort of jammed in the bent ring and took some fussing around to get out. When we took the pole off, a crew member was actually able to hold the pole in place for a short while, even thought it was blowing 20 knots, so there is not a lot of compression on the pole when running square. I can't figure it out, but I think if I had a new one made with a slightly smaller ring, but with equally thick stock used (I think the original is 1/4"), then it would be sufficiently rigid to resist whatever bending moment is being applied. Having said that, the 1/4" is not very much after it is compromised by its weld to the base plate. Perhaps 5/16" stock would be better. I just don't understand what force is causing the bend. The only thing that could possible happen is that if you let the pole "sky", then perhaps the beak does temporarily jam in the ring. Then the foredeck person pulls on the downhaul and with the beak jammed he bends the ring down. That is the only possibility I can think of. If that is the case, then a smaller diameter ring would actually make matters worse. I must go to the city tomorrow and will hook up the pole and prop its end up high and see if the beak can jam. Your idea of a jam may just be the cause.

Ahhh. Thanks Luc. I will take a look this afternoon and see if I can sort it out and save the ring.

Chris,

I drilled and tapped. Think I either used a metric screw or something like a 1/4 x 28. I would not suggest 1/4 x 20 owing to the thin wall of the mast. Better to have a few more threads in there.

I replaced my lower a couple years ago. The upper ring got twisted at the end of last season and was recently replaced.
The upper was a Ronstan RF602. I reinstalled it with rivets because I'd rather have the rivets fail than damage the mast.
js