Mast Crutch Turn

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

After I get my mast into trailering position, I have to lift it up a bit to get the bolt through the crutch arms. As soon as I start trailering, the crutch/roller turns about 15 degrees so that the mast is now back down on the roller and the arms are not straight up anymore. Is this normal for all X's? I'm just curious if my crutch tube is not cut straight across perhaps causing this to happen.

[Jack O'Brien]

Working from poor memory here. With the mast bolted to the bow pulpit and resting on the crutch roller I need to lift the mast an inch or two to be able to get the bolt in the crutch plates. Then it settles into the roller and the plates are leaning slightly forward at the top, not straight up and down. There is no tendency for the crutch to turn or if there is it does not turn as it is stuck pretty good in its hole. I don't know if the crutch pole bends slightly back as the mast settles onto it or if the bow end rides up in the angled slots of the bow pulpit mount.

[TonyHouk]

Dimitri,
Do you have roller furling on your boat. The added weight of the sail causes mine to lean to the left where I place my foiled sailed. This seems like the same description as you are describing. Hope that helps. Happy sails, Tony

[Tom Spohn]

Dimitri,
BWY advised me when I bought my X that the holes on all X masts are staggered a little bit, ie they do not go straight perpendicular through the mast on both sides. On mine I would keep the bars on the mast crutch a little loose until I ran the bolt through the mast, then tighten up everything. Never a problem. Oh yes, Why are the holes not lined up? Dealer didn't know.

[Chip Hindes]

Mine was originally lined up almost perfectly but the two ears are longer than the distance to the holes, so with the bolt installed the mast was lifted up off the roller a good 1 to 1 1/2 inches. I didn't like this; my feeling was if the mast was held up off the roller, trailering and the constant bouncing would eventually elongate the holes and create a weak point on the mast. So, I bent the crutch the way it wanted to go. It now has a pronounced forward bend, the mast now sits nicely on the roller and the holes almost line up. Note that if the holes lined up perfectly and the ears were exactly the right length, if there was any variation you wouldn't be able to get the bolt through.

The location of the holes on the mast is not custom fit for every boat; it's drilled with a jig, the same distance probably within a sixteenth of an inch every time, on about a 20 foot total distance. That's where the chance for ultimate precision ends. Whether the holes line up with the ears on the crutch is dependent on the manufacturing precision, location precision and correct angles of the bow pulpit, the pedestal, even the tube for the crutch. These parts are not hardened tool steel, they're molded fiberglass and fairly modest wall tubing.

There simply has to be some variation, "slop", if you will. Even if it were perfect when it left the factory, it would develop some difference over time based on the boat's use or misuse. Have you ever smacked a dock or another boat with your bow pulpit? It wouldn't take much of a hit to bend it an inch. I've trailered over 7,000 miles with 30 pounds of anchor hanging off mine. Bungee the roller furled genny to the mast and it noticeably increases the sag; way worse if it's wet. This changes the effective distance between the holes. Etc. You're asking for more in the way of precision alignment than the system is capable of delivering.

My suggestion to all of you is: bend the crutch until the holes line up. You still may see some variation from time to time. But Dimitri, don't lift the mast to get the bolt through the holes. With the mast sitting on the roller, turn the ears so they are aligned with the holes horizontally (on my boat with the permanetly forward bent crutch, when I turn the ears so they point aft, that usually puts the holes in the ears aft of the holes in the mast by something over half an inch). Then just grab the top of the crutch and pull it forward (or aft as the case may be) until the holes align. In an extreme case you might have to put your shoulder into the crutch, but it in any case it sure beats trying to lift the mast.

[Don T]

Hello
I have never bolted my mast to the crutch. I loop the boom lanyard around the mast twice and cinch up the back stay (1995 model). For a while I tied it down but with my extra support pole I no longer needed to.

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

I also never bolt mine. I just tie a line from one aft cleat up around the mast and down to the other aft cleat. This keeps the mast in the crutch and provides lateral support to limit side to side swaying. My mast crutch is the old offset transom one. The side support used to matter a lot, but with my additional pole that makes a quasi triangle everything is now very secure.

[TonyHouk]

Duane,
Could you post a picture of the mast support pole from the aft end of the boat? I am making a new support pole and would like some additional ideas. I am trying to eliminate the pole in the center of the cockpit. Thanks and happy sails, Tony

[Duane Dunn, Allegro]

Not sure if this will help but it is the closest I could find on my site.

In this picture the factory crutch is pivoted 180 degrees outboard. We leave it in this position under way. It has our VHF antenna atached to it. It had a 3/8" bolt at the base that kept it from rotating and I replaced that with a tethered quickpin so it is easy to spin. When carrying the mast it swings in so the roller you see is on the center line of the boat. It also is shaped so it tilts a bit forward when in the center.

It also by the way serves nicely as a crane for the 6hp outboard. I swing it so it points aft then I hook the mainsheet on it and to the lifting sling on the outboard and hoist the outboard off it's bracket. I can then pivot the crutch all the way to the side and lower the motor right on to the transom of the dinghy.



In the earlier picture you can see the top of it in the centerline position holding the mast. The extra support is just a chunk of 1" EMT with a couple rubber tips. Two tangs hold it under the crutch bracket at the top and it just sit's on the seat.

Ideally I would still like an arch version of a crutch. Much like the new M ones, but a bit heavier and high enough to allow my tall dowsar bimini to fold back just underneath. I'd want it to be double tubes so you could get some flat surface to put things on like radar, radio antennas, tv antenna, maybe even solar panels. I'd design it to completely replace the aft pulpits and attach to the same spots. I'd build in mounts for the life ring, lifesling and BBQ.

You can also see all the other junk I have on the transom. To starboard is the life ring, BBQ, dinghy motor. Right below the crutch mount is the propane rack. To port is the swim ladder, 400' shore tie spool, and the lifesling. You can also see the upper two panels of my companionway hatchboard in the custom slots I attached under the helm seat. The third bottom one velcros in front of the middle one. Further forward on the mid pulpits are the fishing rod holders for the kids poles and the mesh bags that each hold 2 fenders, since we're at a dock they are empty in the pictures. The bags keep them handy yet out of the way and I am going to make better looking custom sunbrella ones this winter.

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

I like the extra security of the bolt myself, but I still tie the mast down to the sheet attachment point as well as a rope between the two stern cleats.

I have the roller furler with a genoa + U/V cover so that is about as heavy as it gets. I do balance the furler/genoa on top of the mast and tie it tightly though. It is well balanced. I don't find it difficult to raise the mast a bit while on the crutch, I was just curious if others did this or not. Even with the crutch twisted, I don't think its going anywhere while trailering.

I've never hit the bow pulpit and it doesn't look like the original owner did either, but I did bend the crutch once when the mast hit a telephone pole (still hinged position) once. I thought I did a fairly good job bending the crutch back to vertical but perhaps its still a bit bent and that is what causes the rotation.

[Sloop John B]

Mine fits perfectly. The arms are about 45 degrees forward and I slide the bolt through the works with the mast resting on the crutch.

The rubber roller on my crutch didn't roll, it was simply bolted too tight. In pushing the mast back over it during the initial stages, sometimes with a bungee wrapped underneath, the crutch was bent backwards. Rather noticeable and horrible.

This bothered me somewhat until I came upon this string.

So, the solution is to lock up the hatch and brace your feet up against it and grasp the crutch and push hard to the rear until the crutch pole is suitably bent.

[Jesse Days Pacific Star 2]

With the straight crutch on our 2002X I always put the bolt in.

Jesse