Removing Mast - Mast foot attachment

[rajjes]

Hi,

I will be lowering he mast in a couple of weeks time for re-rigging. I have done this with a previous boat where the mast foot was simply supported all round by a shoe 2” high.

On this boat (1980’s Moody 36 with proctor mast) the mast foot has a slot which sits over a raised bar. On this bar there are 2 bolts (1 in front and the other behind the mast) which do not seem to do anything except perhaps limit the mast from sliding along the bar? The mast foot also has 1 hole on each side which does not go through the other side but I cannot see if it has some fitting to secure the mast to the bar? Hopefully the attached pics describe better what I’m trying to say….

Could someone kindly confirm what I should unbolt at the mast foot apart from electrics and shrouds before attempting to lift the mast up? As usual any other tips are appreciated!

Regards,

Duncan

 

[knuterikt]

Hi,

I will be lowering he mast in a couple of weeks time for re-rigging. I have done this with a previous boat where the mast foot was simply supported all round by a shoe 2” high.

On this boat (1980’s Moody 36 with proctor mast) the mast foot has a slot which sits over a raised bar. On this bar there are 2 bolts (1 in front and the other behind the mast) which do not seem to do anything except perhaps limit the mast from sliding along the bar? The mast foot also has 1 hole on each side which does not go through the other side but I cannot see if it has some fitting to secure the mast to the bar? Hopefully the attached pics describe better what I’m trying to say….

Could someone kindly confirm what I should unbolt at the mast foot apart from electrics and shrouds before attempting to lift the mast up? As usual any other tips are appreciated!

Regards,

Duncan

Don't think you need to unbolt anything, just disconnect electrics - remember to attach and take the slack of the hoist before disconnecting the shrouds (deck stepped mast)
The bolts are there to prevent movement for and aft. have a look inside the hole and look for a screw or bolt just in case.

 

[odin boy]

I have the same set up, and there are no additional fittings. I assume you are using a crane to lift it.

Once the sling/strop has been fitted around the mast and takes some of the tension....but not taking the full weight, loosen off the bottlescrews but not completely off...you can remove the forward & aft lowers at this point. Once the crane has taken the weight, remove the cap shrounds, backstay and forestay. I would have someone else supporting the mast at the base,( while you are undoing the bottlescrews) only to stop it moving about too much once its been freed from the foot. Its a good idea to have a lenght of rope around the base to help maneuvering it.

 

[rajjes]

Thanks, that's encouraging. I'm still curious on the purpose of the 2 holes on the mast foot side as they do not go through to the other side ?!

 

[rhumlady]

I think they are intended to allow a bolt or pin to go through the mast foot and plate but as the bolts stop the mast moving forward you can't see through. I say this because I have a Konsort with a Proctor mast sitting on a similar plate. It does have a slightly different foot arrangement but a bolt goes through to secure the mast to the plate.

 

[William_H]

I would have though that the mast would be attached to the base plate in some way. The long spine on the deck is apparently made so that you can move the mast fore and aft though I don't think it would make much difference to sailing performance. It does appera that you just lift the mast up and so off.
My mast on my trailer sailer has a very similar sort of foot except that there are lugs at the back of the mast foot so a bolt sliups through this and the spine. This enables the mast to be tilted backwards on this bolt for lowering without a crane.(or for bridges). It works well because the pivot bas is quite narrow allow for more mast swing sideways when lowering without damage. A wider pivot base is easy to break the lugs.
Anyway it occured to me that if you were interesteed you could add as tainless steel clamp around the outside of the mast bottom part whioch extended aft to make lugs on which the mast could be tilted down (lowered). Needs A frame etc but well worth having. good luck olewill

 

[prv]

I would have though that the mast would be attached to the base plate in some way.

Don't think so, plenty aren't. As long as it can't move fore-and-aft (which in this case is achieved by the bolts) or athwartships (the central ridge) then there's nowhere for it to go. Certainly it ain't going to jump upwards against tons of rig tension!

Pete

 

[alahol2]

A friend has a similar fitting but there is a bolt through the mast which fits into a slot on the deck fitting to prevent fore/aft movement. His doesn't have the bolts ahead and behind the mast. The bolt does not need to be removed in order to lift the mast.

 

[Daydream believer]

There may be a hole in the spline but it has not been lined up with the holes in the mast
Possibly the bolt has not been put in to avoid the hassle of lining it up with the holes in the mast
In our club we often have trouble with stainless steel bolts corroding inside aluminium masts. If one hits the bolt to knock it through i have seen the aluminium break away on the opposite side
So you may be lucky that there is no bolt
I cannot imagine that you would need one unless its purpose would be to help support the aluminium both sides. If one side were to shear off you would loose the mast