I think I must have a blinkered view of what a tabernacle should look like. Could it be that the keel stepped mast has been split above deck to aid lowering? The bottom of the tabernacle doesn't touch the deck...
I must update my mental definition then...a tabernacle is any box like sleeve fitted around a mast to aid lowering, it should be as long as possible to properly hamper sail handling and spoil the aesthetic of the boat:)
Regards Martin
No, Martin, don't update your mental definituon. You could obviously see the photo better on your screen than I could on mine. I didn't see that the metal box didn't touch the deck.
I think what has happened is that someone, to make the boat easier to trail, decided to cut the mast, as you suggest, and to use an external "sleeve" to hold the two parts together for sailing. This has been done on several Newbridge boats, but usually rather more elegantly. However, if one were to buy the boat, one could copy the method used on say Tammy Norie, without adding sign ificantly to the cost of what appears to be a bargain boat. She looks pretty tidy inside and, assuming no fresh water has been standing anywhere, there should be no osmosis problems after 10 years out of the water!