Mast Screw

[corkscrew]

Well, I learned how tio trailer this weekend.....drove to a school parking lot in my neigborhood and practiced for an hour or two....was actuall easier then I thought it would be. Next step.....manuvering the DMV inspection lanes YIKES!

Anyway, during the trailering practice I did I regged up the mast, just to get my bearings. Not that hard One thing that bothered me was that simple littole stainless steel bolt that holds the mast to the hull. Has anyone ever heard of that shearing off? Or do the stays pretty much secure it? I have a horid picture in my head of it ripping off and falling on me.

Couple questions....

1.) Where can you buy replacements (spares) for this bolt and can you order say a titanium version? Anyone know the size off hand? Or specs?

2.) Should the stays be taught, very tight, or somewhat loose?

Thanks

[tangentair]

I am not sure what you refer to. My mast has a SS pin about 1/4 inch thick and maybe 6 inches long that that mast pivots on as it rises and then the base settles into a mate on the deck. After that you connect up the forestay (on an M) with another smaller maybe 1/8 pin.
These maybe dealer enhancements but these pins are available at most marine dealers including WM and the WM website.
I have never read of anyone having any problem with the pin breaking - in fact someone just posted regarding a mast that rotated that the base bent, the pin did not shear. (see the post on Mast Raising (brain dead) on this board)
Regarding the stays, they should be tight - there are several devices that can measure the tension - but first lubricate the washers at the bottom of the mast - so that when you tighten them the mast still rotates. How tight, your dealer should have shown you or at least helped you rig it the first time. But do a search on "stay tension" or "amount of tension" (quotes needed) and get some other opinions.

[parrothead]

Corkscrew,
I know that you have an and therefore you don't have as many "moving parts" associated with your mast step -- but other helpful owners won't know that unless you add your type of boat to the "location" line in your profile.

So you don't need to worry about washers and their lubrication, but as Tangentair has indicated, there's no need to worry about the mast pivot bolt failing, either. Once the mast has been raised, the shrouds and stays should be under tension - not loose. If you search this Board you should find some recommendations on how much tension is desirable. I also have an M -- so am not sure about the best specific setup for an X.

Congratulations on a successful trailering intro, and best wishes for a smooth trip thru the DMV

[Kelly Hanson East]

I looked up a typical Ni SS 3/8 inch pin for shear strength on the web and got a rough number of 12,000 pounds. I would like a real engineer to confirm that that is a reasonable number, but if anyone ever breaks the mast pin, I would love to hear the whole story, as it would be pretty spectacular Im sure.

[c130king]

Maybe this "Kelly Hanson East" should also put his info on his profile so we know who he is



Can you feel the "luv" Stephen

[kmclemore]

So long as your rigging is reasonably attached and even somewhat tight, that bolt should never incur any major loads. And no, we've never heard of one failing, so I'd spend your boatbucks elsewhere.

[bastonjock]

yeh "kelly Hanson East" sounds like a destination in downtown bigcity somewhere

[MARK PASSMORE]

I worry more about the turn buckle failing or the forestay cable coming loose at the crimping point. Or even the ring ding coming out of the pin and the pin slips out. I have found that keeping my mast raising system attached it acts as a secondary forestay. Although it does sometimes get in the way I can deal with it. Also saves me time when setting up because I don’t have to go digging for it in the cabin.