DIY mast step organiser

[pjsmith]

Hi,

I want to run some lines back to the cockpit so need to add a mast base organiser of some sort.

I was thinking of just drilling and tapping a few holes in the plates on the side of the mast as indicated below, then bolting an angled plate on the outside with holes in it so I can attach the blocks. The mast fixing seems quite substantial. By tapping the plate I won't affect the lowering of the mast.

Any reason I can't / shouldn't do this?

 

[TradewindSailor]

Sounds good to me. You could screw saddle claps to it rather than the angle ..... but either way it should work.

 

[pjsmith]

Hadn't though of that. Might be easier if I can find some locally in stainless. Thanks.

 

[Salty John]

If you intend to run the lines over to a deck organiser and then back along the cabin roof, make sure the lines exit the mast base blocks at a height that allows you to arrive at the deck organiser at a sufficiently flat angle. If they arrive at the deck organiser too high they won't feed fairly into the pulleys without fouling the top edge of the organiser.

 

[pjsmith]

Thanks. That is the intention so I'll make sure to mount them as low as I can.

 

[Fantasie 19]

If the blocks are in line, won't the lines your leading back foul each other??

Guessing they are not going to the same point astern but the angle would need to be enough to keep them clear of each other??

 

[pjsmith]

Revising the plain based on the comments above, I'm thinking of still drilling and tapping the base plate side, but attaching stainless U's via cut off bolts (so they don't protrude out the other side), and attaching 1 or more blocks, 1 per U. The first being a tripple like this

http://www.jimmygreen.co.uk/images/products/26d0ded4fd4fc57757554d23f32793c4.jpg

Then on to a 4 way desk organiser monted near, and then back to the cockpit. I figure the block and the organiser will keep the ropes apart? I'd mount the organiser at a 45 degree angle or thereabout from the side of the mast to keep the ropes from touching.

 

[Salty John]

http://www.bartonmarine.com/images/products/size-4-blocks/size-4-product-images.jpg

Have you considered using three of either No. 150 or No. 170 blocks individually mounted on the coachroof at the base of the mast?

 

[pjsmith]

I did, but was a bit concerned about fixing things in, perhaps having to perhaps stengthen that area, put bolts through the coach roof etc. I also wasn't sure if I could have a rope exit those at a 45 degree angle back to the organiser, wheras the block will twist as needed (I think!) / I suppose I could mount them at an angle, though not sure if that would look weird.