What goes here? What is this for?

[adudinsk]

I have a 2007 26M, and on the mast base plate there is a tab on one side.
Currently NOTHING is going through that single tab hole. Is there just a pop rivet, or a screw that goes in? I have a photo of the part, and an arrow pointing to the tab.

Currently mine is just there, with nothing attached to the tab. Can anyone tell me what should go there? if anything?


Regards
AD

[Tomfoolery]

Just a guess, but a turning block for a halyard?

The big tab on the right looks like it's for the boom vang.

I don't know if BWY is staffed right now, but I'd bet they'd at least answer an email.

[adudinsk]

I have a solid vang installed, and Yes, the large hole appears to be for the soft vang.
The little tab.. THere is a hole on the mast.. that aligns with it. I am wondering if it takes a bolt.. or a pop rivet.. or is not really needed/used for much

AD

[Russ]

I have a screw that goes into that tab (arrow pointing to) into the mast. My guess is it keeps the base from wobbling. When I don't have the screw in, the base can pivot a bit. My best guess.

[adudinsk]

THanks.. will put a screw.. or maybe an alum, pop rivet..


Thanks again
AD

[Jimmyt]

As Russ stated, a screw...

[adudinsk]

Wow! Thanks Much. I will put one in then!
My mast is pinned so it will not rotate.
I ordered the ball bearing upgrade, and plan on installing it and removing the pin.
From everything I hear it does not do much, but I will just make it factory.
Once the bearing is in, I can then align the hole/screw.

Thanks everyone for all the great help!

AD

[Russ]

I would use a screw so you can remove the base easily to lubricate and adjust the bearings.

The bearing upgrade was a big improvement for mine.
It's basically just a thrust bearing. Some early "versions" were undersized and didn't last. I've had mine for years and are still working fine.

[BOAT]

It's a set screw. It keeps the plate from rotating so the bolts don't elongate the holes in the aluminum mast and create cracks in the aluminum. For the most part you should be fine without it - I have a set screw in mine.

In my experience if you have the shrouds (stays?) properly tensioned the ball bearing style mast bearing will only last one season. I went through two sets so about 3 years ago I finally gave up on them and went back to the solid washers. I have not revisited the washer issue since then because my mast has never had any problems rotating. I suppose if your mast is really hard to rotate the roller bearings might be some help.

Hey Tom! is it shroud or stay?? I never seem to get it right.

[Russ]

Hey Tom! is it shroud or stay?? I never seem to get it right.

The is a B&R rig.

It employs swept spreaders that are usually angled aft, together with "stays" running diagonally downward from the tip of the spreaders to the attachment of the next pair of spreaders to the mast or to the intersection of the mast with the deck (so-called reverse-diagonal shrouds) that facilitates a pre-bend of the mast (curving aft) that is sometimes tuned into the rig before it is stepped onto the boat
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%26R_rig

[Tomfoolery]

Hey Tom! is it shroud or stay?? I never seem to get it right.

Well, I’m no expert on sailing vessel terminology, but it seems to me both are correct. All shrouds are stays, but not all stays are shrouds. Forestay, backstay, triatic stay, etc. are not side stays or shrouds, but they certainly are stays.

[Jimmyt]

I was under the impression that shrouds were port and starboard and stays were fore and aft. But I'm just learning the lingo myself. More interested in learning to sail than learning what to call everything. Since I'll usually be the only one on the boat that knows what fore and aft mean, and my instructions are like "pull the white rope on the right out of the little claw thingy and let it go slack, then find the rope on the left and pull it tight and put it in the little claw thingy", the difference between shrouds and stays would be irrelevant.

[Russ]

I was under the impression that shrouds were port and starboard and stays were fore and aft. But I'm just learning the lingo myself. More interested in learning to sail than learning what to call everything. Since I'll usually be the only one on the boat that knows what fore and aft mean, and my instructions are like "pull the white rope on the right out of the little claw thingy and let it go slack, then find the rope on the left and pull it tight and put it in the little claw thingy", the difference between shrouds and stays would be irrelevant.

My admiral is a smart woman. She knows the names of all the lines etc. Yet when push comes to shove, I tend to say "Pull the blue rope".

[Jimmyt]

[adudinsk]

I did purchase the bearing upgrade. Was surprised how small they were (picture looked much bigger.. oops)
I will give it a try. Even if I replace them every 1-2 yrs.. not a bad thing if it works well.
Currently my mast is pinned in place.
Does not rotate.
Many say it makes very little difference.
We shall see.
I will take some photos of the plate today when I am working on the boat.

AD