Riveting things to the mast, and cutting holes in it.

[prv]

Ice permitting, I'm off to the boat tomorrow to rivet on my new winch pads (with barrier sheets and duralac ) and fit an exit slot for the spinnaker halyard. I'm fairly confident I know what to do, but I thought I'd see if the forum had any last-minute advice.

In particular, I'm wondering whether there's a preferred place (in terms of fore-and aft position on the side of the mast) to cut the halyard slot. The instructions don't mention any restriction (they do have rules about vertical separation which I can easily follow). Obviously it's going to need to lead fair onto the winch, but with both slot and winch not yet placed and quite a lot of vertical separation between them, I do have some flexibility.

I couldn't find any instructions for the winch pads. Apart from making sure they're not so far aft I foul the sail track internally, is there any more to it than drilling seven holes and pulling seven rivets?

The mast is horizontal, so the only way I'll be able to remove the rivet mandrels is if they're magnetic - I have a magnet on a stick which should pull them out if so, but I don't actually know. Otherwise I guess most will probably fall out of the slots when the mast is hoisted.

Cheers,

Pete

 

[VicS]

Ice permitting, I'm off to the boat tomorrow to rivet on my new winch pads (with barrier sheets and duralac ) and fit an exit slot for the spinnaker halyard. I'm fairly confident I know what to do, but I thought I'd see if the forum had any last-minute advice.

In particular, I'm wondering whether there's a preferred place (in terms of fore-and aft position on the side of the mast) to cut the halyard slot. The instructions don't mention any restriction (they do have rules about vertical separation which I can easily follow). Obviously it's going to need to lead fair onto the winch, but with both slot and winch not yet placed and quite a lot of vertical separation between them, I do have some flexibility.

I couldn't find any instructions for the winch pads. Apart from making sure they're not so far aft I foul the sail track internally, is there any more to it than drilling seven holes and pulling seven rivets?

The mast is horizontal, so the only way I'll be able to remove the rivet mandrels is if they're magnetic - I have a magnet on a stick which should pull them out if so, but I don't actually know. Otherwise I guess most will probably fall out of the slots when the mast is hoisted.

Cheers,

Pete

I checked mine.

The mandrels of the Al ones that i have had for ages ( Bought in Halfords probably) are magnetic

The mandrels of the Al ones I bought more recently in B&Q are not

The Monel ones from a chandler are magnetic

The ones I acquired from work as stainless are not

 

[prv]

Thanks. These ones were supplied by Aladdin's Cave, who ordered the bits for me. Don't know if the rivets came with the bits or were from their general stock. Don't even know what material they are, when I emailed the order I just asked for "appropriate rivets" for the job. They're packed in the car now ready for tomorrow so can't easily check them.

Presumably if they're non-ferrous they won't rust, so it doesn't matter too much if there's the odd bit left inside the mast.

Pete

 

[VicS]

Don't even know what material they are,

One golden one ??

 

[prv]

One golden one ??

Funnily enough one of them does have a golden-coloured mandrel where the rest are grey. Sadly on the side of the mast it won't be much good for the usual golden rivet purposes

Presumably just the end (or start) of a different batch. Unless you think the man in Aladdin's Cave rigging really likes me?

Pete

 

[VicS]

Funnily enough one of them does have a golden-coloured mandrel where the rest are grey. Sadly on the side of the mast it won't be much good for the usual golden rivet purposes

Presumably just the end (or start) of a different batch. Unless you think the man in Aladdin's Cave rigging really likes me?

Pete

ITYWF that the colour of the mandrel is a code which indicates the type / material . I forget what. Maybe worth your while looking it up. I hope I am not sending you on a virtual wild goose chase.

You wont be wanting to fix your winches with aluminium rivets.

 

[William_H]

Regarding the spinaker halyard slot. Do make the slot quite high like 2 metres above the deck. On racing boats the procedure is for a man or 2 to pull on the halyard to hoist spin. They put a clutch above their heads but near the slot so that spin halyard is hoisted and held from there. After the operation settles down the halyard is pulled through the pulleys to the cleat at the cockpit. The clutch is opened so that spin halyard is controlled in the release from the cabin top/cockpit.
Now I realise you will be controlling yours from the mast but a high slot would still be an advantage for a fit man to get the best effort to pull spin up. (By reaching up grab the halyard and use body weight to pull halyard down.) Other wise no concerns about holes in mast. good luck olewill

 

[prv]

Regarding the spinaker halyard slot. Do make the slot quite high like 2 metres above the deck.

Many moons ago, I did both foredeck and mast man (not at the same time!) on Army racing boats. So I know about working a halyard effectively and this is exactly why I'm fitting the slot. If I wanted to mither about with it in half-arsed cruising style there are several spare mast-foot sheaves I could have used

Pete

 

[merlin3688]

The important thing about cutting holes/slots in masts is not to cut any slots opp each other ie if you are putting a slot on stabd side the next slot would be or port at about 10" higher and so on. Clearly by cutting slots at the same height on both port and stbd would weaken the mast. When cutting in check for halyards and electrics inside the mast, also some older masts are fitted with sound deadening.
The rivets i'm guessing will be Monel (The only type to use!) Hope this helps.