Mainsail connected to Mast

[Gaylen Beardsley]

Hey! It's me again with another question 8)

I hae seen several different methods attempted to attach the mail sail to the mast, from simply using rope, to cable laced with beads. (I forget the term for these little gizmos, and my plans are down stairs :? ) :scatter:

I think I saw where someone used sewing hoops for this purpose. I would like to know how they worked. They are made out of wood, and one can get various sizes. Do they have the strength. Since they are wood, they would finish up real nice.

[Tom Holder]

If you are talking about cross-stitch hoops, I would vote no. I walked downstairs to my wife's sewing room, gave a few a little flexing and broke one. Gotta be something better IMHO.

[Barry Pyeatt]

The sewing hoops are too fragile and don't have enough inherent strength to work as mast hoops.

Lacing is a very traditional method and works well. Nice and quiet when sailing.

ABS coupler Mast hoops are easy and work pretty well, well enough. But they don't look so salty. Sound like plastic clicking about when sailing.

The beaded cable hoops work quite well, and are plenty strong. They also sound good when sailing.

Builders choice.

[Gaylen Beardsley]

OK then, so much for sewing hoops. I'll try and jump through too many.

hoops that is... :shock:

What type of beads are used. I suppose the same kind of cable that is used for stays is OK.

[Barry Pyeatt]

We've been using the beads from the car seat pads. Picking the used car pads from thrift stores etc.

3/16 Stainless wire with nicopress fittings. 20 -22 beads to a hoop.

[Frank Hagan]

I have a broken plastic mast hoop, and I'll have to "de-rig" the mast to replace it. Now I'm wondering about the beaded hoops, and if I could rig a way to connect them in place ....

[Gaylen Beardsley]

So, the beaded hoops are like those I saw on Capt Jakes boat.

When he was setting up the mast for my viewing, something broke. I never did figure out what happened. It sounded like a bead was cracked or smashed.

Is there another type of covering for the cable one could use.

All these questions and I haven't made sawdust yet... :wink:

[Barry Pyeatt]

Yep, it's kinda like fussin over what kind of sprinkles to put on the ice cream when you don't know what flavor you'll get yet.

Yes, that is what Capt. Jake has done on his. I'm not certain that they will ever have sails attached to them at the rate he is going, but the hoops are there.

I wouldn't use wire alone, it will mark up the mast and tear up the finish.

Vinyl coated wire hangs up too easily. The parrel beads work fine, but occasionally one will break. Most people will make an extra hoop or two and leave an extra on the mast. At least you have a 1 out of 8 chance that a needed replacement might be close to the bottom. Funny thing is you can slice one of the beads in half and simply 5 min epoxy it inplace to replace a broken bead. Good to go. 8)

[capt jake]

What broke was the parral beads on the gaff. I didn't see that they were in the hinge area as I stepped the mast. I felt resistance and then 'pop'. I broke about 4 of them.

The rate I'm going'!! :shock: :shock: HA!

[Bob Taylor]

I also used the parrel beads but installed a few extra hoops that rest at the bottom of the mast just above the boom in case I break one. I also made a "girdle" out of sail cloth that laces arou7nd the mast hinge to keep the hoops from snagging on the way up.

[Ed Harris]

I cut my mast hoops out of 1/2" plywood and then stained and varnished them. They are very strong and show no wear after almost 1 season.

[attachment over 4 years old deleted by admin]

[Mike Pennington]

Awsome Ed, I was wondering how 1/2 inch would work. I finally got around to installing portholes this last summer. I made them from 3/8 ply, there was some splintering at the edges. Were you using ACX ply?

[capt jake]

I like the girdle idea. Maybe will save me making repairs again. :)

[Gaylen Beardsley]

They look good Ed. Thanks for the idea. I will most likely try this before the plastic rings.

By the way, I do know what flavor icecream it will be. Green and white with natural brite work. Besides, the sprinkles are always more colorful to look at, and they stick on your tongue when you take a lick.

You see, I want to sail even more than I want to build a boat. It takes all I can muster to keep from just buying a small plastic one. However, I have a personal tradition to carry out. My dad (who has passed on) built his boat when he was about my age. It is something I have wanted to do for a long time.

Better go before I get all teared up... :wink:

[Andrew]

Ah-ha

Another reason to build a boat - 'cause your dad did. Now if we team it up with Franks reason ('cause his dad didn't), then I think I can honestly say that one of these is the same reason I'm building a boat! :wink:

Andrew

[Gaylen Beardsley]

By the way Ed, you said you used 1/2 inch plywood, now can you tell us how wide you cut them. Looks to be about 1/2 inch as well

Thanks,

[Gaylen Beardsley]

Absolutely!

We all had Dads, Oops, there's another reason.

Or it could be the same reason I joined the military...just to see if I would survive the ordeal. (some say I didn't) :shock:

[Ed Harris]

Mike and Gaylen,

I made the hoops from ACX plywood that was leftover from the boat bottom. I rounded over the edges and haven't had any splintering. The hoops are 5" internal diameter with 1/2" width.