Mast step

[noah]

Hello, I am a keen novice who has recently jumped in with both feet and blown my savings on an old Silhouette II. She is scruffy and needs a little licking into shape but I am undaunted as in my inexpert opinion she seems seaworthy.
Rather crucially she is missing a mast step. The fitting at the foot of the mast is a rectangle of aluminium about 10cm x 2cm x 2cm with a hole for a pin. Does anyone have any leads on sourcing the right step? A piece of aluminium channel with lugs is what I imagine. When fitting to the deck will 10cm for or aft make much difference to handling?


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[aitchw]

I take it the 10cm is fore and aft and the 2cm x 2cm is the section. So it is a tenon fitting not a tabernacle arrangement. On a dinghy this would go straight into a channel with a 2cm slot, on the Silhouette it is possibly a wider stainless steel channel with holes drilled through across it and around 25cm long. The holes allow bolts to be used as fore and aft location for a hardwood block with a mortice in to match the foot of your mast. You can then move the pair of bolts forward or aft to adjust the position of the mast and assist with rake.

There is a Silhouette Owners Association website and they are a helpful bunch. Just type it into Google.

Good luck

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[aitchw]

Just in case you can't find it:

http://www.soia.org.uk/history.htm

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[ex-Gladys]

SII mast step is a tabernacle (metal casting about 12" tall in which the base of the mast sits and can pivot to lower. SOIA are the experts



<hr width=100% size=1>Larry Botheras

Anderson 26 "Amber"

 

[noah]

Thanks for the helpfull advice, will try SOIC but mast is non standard for Sillhouette.

<hr width=100% size=1>