Mast box height

[Steve Tarry]

As I read the plans, the top of the forward bulkhead sets right against the deck panel joiner which runs from side to side. The mast box then abutts the bulkhead on the forward side, right beneath the panel joiner, forcing a cut through both the deck and the joiner for the mast to fit into the box. Wouldn't it make as much sense to make the mast box a bit longer to match the bulkhead and use two shorter panel joiners on either side of the mast location, or would this weaken something on some way?

Maybe I'm just looking for shortcuts. We open "Odd Couple" this week and school opened last week, so I've done darn little boat building and am perhaps just tired and cranky.

[Dave R1]

Steve, It could really be done either way. I think it's easier to put a single joiner in place when gluing up the deck pieces. The amount of 1x4 wasted when you cut the opening for the mast really isn't much in the scheme of things.

When it came toime to cut the opening. I drilled a hole down the middle, cut most of the waste away with a jig saw and cleaned it up with a router and a pattern trimming bit which brought the edge of the hole out to the inside surfaces of the mast box.

[Barry Pyeatt]

I would go with the one piece per the plans, it is a lot easier to handle the deck assembly than with it in seperate pieces and the alignment won't be in question at all.

[BJ]

Hi Steve,

I did exactly as you pointed out. I raised the mast box 1/2 inch after cutting the joiner back a little. The collar fits around the mast box glued up against the deck and makes a tight fit. The only thing is you have to bevel the top back of the box to put it in place.