Servicing the top of the mast

[Martin_J]

I'll be doing the same work later this year.. Checking and servicing the sheaves on a similar size Selden mast.

Just did a quick search and this website came up.. No connection and I've never heard of them - but could be useful...

http://www.getrigged.co.uk/index.asp?function=displaycat&catid=30

 

[Martin_J]

Although when my mast is down, I'll probably just take off the head box and ask the local on-site rigger for some sheaves/spindles that match any that I need... Let us know if that supplier above proves useful though.

 

[prv]

What do I ask Selden for? Two sheaves and a pin?

Their website has exploded diagrams of spars going back quite a few years; I was able to order all the internal parts to refurbish my boom. Quite a few of the parts have a part number moulded into them, although the pin is unlikely to and maybe aluminium sheaves don't (acetal ones do). But you might be able to pick other suitable parts from the diagrams and dimensions even if they're not like-for-like replacements.

Pete

 

[MagicalArmchair]

Thanks Pete/Martin, I need to figure out exactly what my mast is else ordering spares is going to be complicated at best. There is a very UV damaged broken up sticker halfway up the mast that might give it away. I've emailed Selden and had a crawl over their site, I contact the other Ballad owners from the club to see if this is the original mast too...

 

[Martin_J]

Can you measure the mast precisely front to back and side to side.. then see if it matches anything here..
http://www.seldenmast.com/files/1322118734/595-808-E.pdf
I've not had time to peruse.. but does list the sections.

 

[merlin3688]

I am not sure its a Selden mast (Kemp in old days), composite sheaves of the same size will work and can be purchased from other spar companies, not sure if you have given sheave size, need to also know spindle size.
http://www.rigrite.com/Spars/Zspar/Z-Sheaves.html Z Spars UK can supply
http://www.rigrite.com/Spars/Isomat_Spars/isomat_sheaves.html Sailspar, Eurospars can supply

 

[alteredoutlook]

No wonder it was a workout getting the sail up!


If ease of raising sail is important then I'd investigate the cost of a replacement ball-bearing sheave.

Consider also upgrading your halyards to a thinner diameter. But of course this could be expensive - dyneema is not cheap - and possibly your clutches to hold it.

 

[stuartwineberg]

Coming back to one of the OP original questions the echomax RTE doesn't come with a bracket and my engineer tells me a decent one is about sixty squid. They don't usually go on top of the mast but on a bracket riveted off the side of the mast near the top. If you walk round a marina you will see that nearly all of them are mounted that way. Also they are white and it causes problems if you have LED masthead lights as they reflect off it so there is usually a wide strip of black tape added to the unit to cut out that problem.

 

[MagicalArmchair]

Thanks all, I didn't get around to fitting a radar reflector, so will be a pushpit job I think. I did, however, fabricate (its a bit amateurish, my metalwork is not up to that of 30boats ) a little thin aluminium cap to stop some of the water coming down the mast:

Cap in place and new Nasa led masthead affair.

 

[Boo2]

That's very neat Mark, well done !

Boo2