a building question ....

[wagonmaker]

I started my first boat project a couple months ago..........a stevensons projects skipjack. It is a 13' plus foot open daysailer. All has gone well & it is now 3d with my keel , deck & hull together.

Here is the question.... I am on my second attempt at making the mast/daggerboard box. The first time I just cut all pieces to the exact measurements specified by the plans, put it together & it didn't fit. Nothing major, a half inch or so here & there, but definitely didn't fit. My second building of it looks good, I test fit each piece as I made it. Should have known better the first time.

Anyway........daggerboard section , no problem. I ripped the 3/4" stock to 2 5/8" on my table saw as the plans specify. The mast section of the box is of course 2 5/8" in width. The other dimension will be when assembled 3 1/8". The plans say to use a 2 1/4" to 2 3/8" mast or aluminum tube. A 2 5/8" width in the mast box for a 2 3/8" mast sounds reasonable to even this inexperienced non-sailing newcomer. Is the 3 1/8" measurement the other way a problem?...........................The plans are not real clear on the mast portion.........The 3 1/8" is not specified , it is simply what is left after using all the other exact dimensions. Any help or suggestions are appreciated. With a 2 3/8" mast we are only talking only 1/2" play fore & aft in the mastbox. Just a little gun shy now, I don't want to make this a third time. Wayne

[Dave R1]

I don't remember exactly on the Skipjack and maybe a Skipjack builder will chime in. I think though that fore and aft play allows for a bit of adjustment in mast rake which can be set up with shrouds. If I remember correctly, the mast comes up through what little deck there is and the location of the hole is also part of the determining factor.