Fellow M-ers, Thanks for all the good suggestions for putting a "slightly" bent mast to other uses, and for your commiseration. It sure ruins your day - but happening on the day the boat is hauled, sure beats having it happen on the first sail of the season. That was at least one ray of sunshine in the gloom! In case this happens to anyone else - and I fervently hope that it doesn't - here are some suggestions of what to do with the old mast. - Use it as a fishing pole for agressive fish. - Cut in sections: Turn the mast groove upwards and sell as a planter for small plants - Use a section and build a pogo stick. - Use as a flag pole I suggested it might a new toy for my squirrels, but they rejected that idea: the aluminum is too hard to chew: it is too hard to climb: they prefer the trunks of my oak trees; better traction and more user friendly. Connie