G
Guest
Guest
Can someone tell me the advantages of a deck stepped mast against a keel stepped mast, I am pretty new to sailing.
oldsaltoz
New member
Re: Stepped Masts
Hi Ax41
One very good reason for stepping the mast on deck is that it can be lowered without a crane, another good reason is that a mast stepped above the cabin tends not to leak, I’m sure there a lot of other reasons but the above are why I chose to fit a tabernacle with a single pivot pin.
Welcome to the fantastic world of sailing.
Old Salt Oz.
Hi Ax41
One very good reason for stepping the mast on deck is that it can be lowered without a crane, another good reason is that a mast stepped above the cabin tends not to leak, I’m sure there a lot of other reasons but the above are why I chose to fit a tabernacle with a single pivot pin.
Welcome to the fantastic world of sailing.
Old Salt Oz.
Bergman
New member
The reason for keel stepping is that it is supposed to be stronger. The down side is that if the mast does go there is considerable scope for damage inside as well as out.
The Oldsalt is right about leaks, I have never seen one that was completely watertight, even if the cabin top is well sealed water comes down inside the mast.
Certainly deck stepped is easier to take out although not always without a crane. I have always found putting it back harder than taking it out. The mast that is.
Provided its well supported internally I would go for deck stepped all other things being equal.
The Oldsalt is right about leaks, I have never seen one that was completely watertight, even if the cabin top is well sealed water comes down inside the mast.
Certainly deck stepped is easier to take out although not always without a crane. I have always found putting it back harder than taking it out. The mast that is.
Provided its well supported internally I would go for deck stepped all other things being equal.
Twister_Ken
Well-known member
Great big spear
It's also a question of engineering to take the strain imposed by standing rigging and sail loading.
If you think of it that way, you see that tightening shrouds or stays is like trying to force the mast through the boat. If it is decked stepped then the deck has to have sufficient strength under compression to resist being speared by the mast. Whilst this is possible, on many boats its easier (and it keeps weight lower) to let the deck concentrate on keeping water off the bunks, while the top of the keel resists mast compression.
It's also a question of engineering to take the strain imposed by standing rigging and sail loading.
If you think of it that way, you see that tightening shrouds or stays is like trying to force the mast through the boat. If it is decked stepped then the deck has to have sufficient strength under compression to resist being speared by the mast. Whilst this is possible, on many boats its easier (and it keeps weight lower) to let the deck concentrate on keeping water off the bunks, while the top of the keel resists mast compression.
gunnarsilins
New member
I agree with "Bergman" but I´m wondering from where the idea that a keel stepped mast should be stronger came? Assuming that the support under deck is properly made a deck stepped one in theory would be stronger - stepping the mast on the keel would lenghten the unstayed section by, at least on bigger yachts, about 2 metres or more.
G
Guest
Guest
My keel stepped mast is tensioned to the deck (in the area of the main bulkhead) against the downward pull of the shrouds etc. using bottlescrews. Therefore the "unstayed" section is not longer than a deck stepped mast. The keel stepped mast is in effect semi-suspended between the upward pull from its attachment to the deck and the downward pull from the rigging.
This should provide an inherently stronger structure than a deck stepped mast (assuming nothing else fails). On a deck stepped mast one is relying on the integrity of the bolt that hold the mast to the mast step, on which considerable lateral and twisting forces may be applied.
Incidentally, in my case leaking is not noticeable, although the occasional drop of water does find its way in.
This should provide an inherently stronger structure than a deck stepped mast (assuming nothing else fails). On a deck stepped mast one is relying on the integrity of the bolt that hold the mast to the mast step, on which considerable lateral and twisting forces may be applied.
Incidentally, in my case leaking is not noticeable, although the occasional drop of water does find its way in.
G
Guest
Guest
What about lightning?
Does a keel stepped mast provide a better 'path of least resistance' than a deck stepped mast?
Does the mast and rigging provide some kind of 'faraday cage' like a car?
(No I don't know what a faraday cage is really either, but it sound good. I think I'll go down to b&q to see if I can get one.)
Any ideas?
Does a keel stepped mast provide a better 'path of least resistance' than a deck stepped mast?
Does the mast and rigging provide some kind of 'faraday cage' like a car?
(No I don't know what a faraday cage is really either, but it sound good. I think I'll go down to b&q to see if I can get one.)
Any ideas?
