Bent Mast: That all depends on how bad the bend is.............. If it is a very slight bend, then I think you have a reasonably good chance of straightening it out If on the other hand, the mast is bent enough so that it makes a crease in the mast, then it's time for a new mast. I have had my original mast that had a small bend due to snow load during winter (I used it as a ridge pole for the winter boat cover, and the span between the mast support on the cabin top and the aft support at the transom was too large. The weight of the wet snow on the winter covered caused a slight bend that I could remove.) Last year, however, a friend driving my car as we hauled the boat out of the local lake wanted to be helpful, and take me around the corner to a better parking area where I could lower the mast. Unfortunately, a big ancient oak limb crossing the road had an argument with my mast, and the oak tree limb won. In this case my mast was bent at a 90 degree angle, and at the bend, had a crease like you can put in a beer can. There was no way to save it this time, so I now have a new mast, from Dwyer Masts in North Branford, CT, which I have just finished rigging. So, a slight gentle bend can be corrected, but anything with a crease is now excellent raw material for a new letter box post. Connie M15 #400 LEPPO Glastonbury, CT