Mast hinge and pin arrangement

[kydocfrog]

Well, I got the mast assembled this weekend. Shrouds and eyebolts, etc. But the hinge arrangement was less than ideal. The hinge on the folding side (aft) has an alarming amount of lateral slop in it. Its a big galvanized gate hinge, and the slop is in the hinge itself, not the lag screws etc. I haven't been able to find a second hinge with a removable pin as in the plans (or figured out how to make one removable), so I tried a sliding bolt arrangement. Total failure. That's a really big, heavy stick...

What have folks tried for the front lock that is stable enough to hold the mast while trying to get the forestay rigged? I'm assuming that the forestay and shrouds actually take the final load when the mast is actually up; the second hinge/pin rig is for stabilzation. In a related question, does anyone use a turnbuckle or other adjustment on the forestay?

Thanks.

DocA

[Pat Mellema]

Doc

I used a hinge the same as the one on the rear but ground the cap off one end of the pin. It works very well to just stick the pin in to hold it until I hook up the for stay. I had a turnbuckle on the forstay when I started out but removed it when I went with a roller furler. I found it wasn't really needed as you can take up all the slack with the side stays.

[waynemunro]

my aft hinge has quite a bit of slop too, mainly rotational though, rather than lateral - but it does not seem to be an issue when it is up, and is quite handy when trying to rest the mast down on the back.

I used the same type of hinge for the front side of the mast, but just knocked out the two half pins that were holding it together and replaced them with a bolt of about the right size (had to pound it in a few times with the hammer to widen the holes a bit). All pretty rough, but seems to work fine. The bolt is a fairly loose fit, but never moves once the tension is on the forestay as that cinches it in tight between the two halves of the hinge.

the photo shows the front and back of my arrangement, though with a spade bit standing in for the bolt, which had not been found at that point.

[capt jake]

Usually, the pin on a hinge such as this is piened (sp?) to hold it in place. Grinding this off will usually allow it to be driven out.

I have the forward hinge set up but lost th pin on the second or third outing. I utilize the jib halyard to assist in raising the mast (it is re-rigged to accomplish this); hold the mast up with the halyard and then attach the fore-shroud.

It sounds complicated, but it really isn't. Matter of fact it actually has lessened the amount of time required to set up and tear down. I am getting a 2:1 advantage wehn raising it this way.

I am lousy at electronic drawing, but maybe if Barry sees this , he will draw a schematic for you. He has seen it in use plenty of times.

[Craig]

Normally the hinge will hold the mast until the forestay is tightened. Yes , I think everyone used turnbuckles on the forestay. They are really handy to trim the mast rake. Some folks have made deadeyes for the shrouds but most just go with the turnbuckles. I never liked the gate hinge idea and made a custom tabernnacle for the Saralee, it is a modified tenion and grove set up. Phil Gowing used a recessed hinge on his boat that worked very well. Konrad used a sissors set up with a mast laminated up from 2x timbers. You may try grinding off the end of the hinge pin and putting in a bolt or custom turned pin of slightly larger diameter. Look around at some of the sites and get a feel for what is possible. Happy building....