Annie Hill wrote:
I've posted a photo in my photo albums under 'useful photos', showing the arrangement at the foot of my mast. You could always go for a larger rigging screw, of course. Another advantage of this arrangement is it also helps to stop the mast rotating. However, with my mast being well raked forward, the bottom of the mast is cut to match (the step is horizontal) which, at least in theory, works as a cam to stop the mast rotating.
I've made my current mast head fitting from webbing - after all, they use the stuff to haul boats out. But I've only had about 500 miles with it, so would say it's too early to judge its success.
Arne makes his masthead fittings out of alloy, cutting it all himself and then asking the local TIG expert to weld it up (I hope I've remembered this correctly, Arne?), which seems a cost-effective way to go, without the risk of perforating the top of the mast.
Another possibility, of course, is to make a wee wooden topmast and attach your fittings to that, in whatever way seems suitable. You don't need to screw it in place: just make the part that fits into the mast nice and long and slather on plenty of Simpsons Marine Glue, or similar. If you're really concerned about it rotating, you could build lugs onto the cap and match them with notches in the alloy tube.
On Badger, we used a galvanised eye-bolt for the halyard and stainless steel U-bolts for the mast lift, topping lifts and burgee halyard or knotted to them. As far as I know, they are still going strong. When I tried a similar arrangement for Fantail's halyard: actually an eye screwed onto a bolt set into the wooden topmast, I used stainless steel and it sheared. Apparently it was a stupid thing to do, but I knew no better.
Ahh …found it. Yes , that looks great Annie! Actually my idea about the 2 "L" brackets and a through bolt are somewhat similar …and just some added security.
The masthead fitting from webbing sounds quite interesting! I am sorry hear about the eyebolts not working. I read the story of your conversion of Joshua / Fantail with interest …especially since our boats are similar in size.
On Badger , your masts were hollow correct? So, did the U bolts and eye bolts just fasten on the inside of the mast? Or , all the way through the mast?
As far as a topmast , I did have that thought …ESPECIALLY since I found a VERY NICE, already made , Stainless steel masthead fitting at a marine swap meet , practically for free. It would need a few more tabs welded on ….BUT , the problem is that the inner diameter of the fitting is 2.5 inches , and the bottom diameter of my mast is 7 inches. According to PJR that was just a wee bit too small…so , it kind of scared me off. It's a shame….because it is very nicely made! Once I figure out how to upload to this site …I'll post some pics. I'm looking at it now …GRRR.
I also saw Arne's fantastic , Aluminum fitting in his files…as always NICE WORK!
All of the welding quotes I've gotten have been higher than I expected ….but I willing to pay…..if I have to! hahah!
I'm heading to Southern California tomorrow , and while there , will stop by Industrial Metals , and see if I can find some scrap stuff that I can possibly cut and trim myself before taking it to welder.
We are GETTING THERE…slowly , but surely!
Today's great news is……(drum roll)….. I purchased my mast! Now……if I can sell my old rig to make room for it!
JK