BWY hinged mast step

[Chumpy36]

I can call them tomorrow but maybe someone know the answer. I have both the base and the hinged part. I was putting the mast on the base and it appears that once the mast is stepped and both parts of the base are mated with the mast up, there is no pinning to keep the base from hinging back down. So the running rigging just keeps everything in place? Am I missing something?

Thanks!

[pitchpolehobie]

there is definitely a pin that goes thru the aft(back) hole on each and the mast pivots up and down on that.

[Chumpy36]

Right, but there isn't a bolt opposite that one that keeps the hinge "flat" right?

[pitchpolehobie]

That is correct at least on my 26X which I think is the same for your 26 but will wait for other members to confirm.

Looks like your work is paying off and the boats ready to splash!

[WinSome]

You are correct. The running rigging keeps the mast up and in place on all the 26’s. Happy sailing.

[closehaul]

I have a 26X also and concur with Pitchpolehobie. Bolt in rear of brackets only. One recommendation is to not tighten the 3/8" bolt that attaches mast to hinge bracket too tight - let the joint breath. Prevailing torque nut will keep things from falling apart. I had mine too tight originally and the Alum mast to SS bracket galled/froze which prohibited mast from fully dropping into position - made shroud pins challenging to install until I figured out what the problem was.

The forestay is the only thing holding the mast from falling aft (depending on your roller furling configuration). For that reason (inherent reliability of (4) ring dings in series) I added a U-bolt at the mast head and use a 5/16" line from the mast head to the Bow Pulpit as a 'Safety Forestay' (not tight). This line is also used to distribute load when raising mast. Closehaul

[leefrankpierce]

Concur that the forestay is the only thing keeping the mast from lowering onto your heads, there would be tooo much torque on a bolt at the base.
You do leave the pin/bolt in that was used to hinge to keep the bottom of the mast from moving forward and aft.
When my boat was new, I had the habit of leaving the spinnaker halyard hooked to the front rail.
Now I have the newer, larger forestay and trust in the hardness of my head.

[Chumpy36]

Thx Y'all.

I do plan to attach a line when raising. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't being dumb

[C Buchs]

I took the advice here and started to keep my spinnaker connected to the bow. Just make sure to keep it tight. It will wrap around your furler.

My spinnaker halyard is run to the cockpit and someone tripped over the latch while we were quietly trolling along at 2 knts under full genoa with a couple of fishing lines out for kokanee. I went below to start the heater. I was called back because a squall was coming through. The boys were trying to roll up the genoa, but it was jammed. It was literally snowing sideways with the genoa flapping and the boat healing wildly. Once we figured out what was keeping the genoa from furling, we had to open it back up, tighten the spinnaker halyard, and then roll it up. In the end, we were all soaked, the heater was going, the hills around us had a new dusting of snow, and we had a fish on! Lesson learned

Jeff