Mast Bushings

[Guest Dennis M]

Do any of you folks have pics of the mast bushings you could share or direct me to a previous thread with such pics? (I searched under mast collars and mast bushings but came up with nada). Also, those with sleeve luffs, have you had any problems with chafe from the bushings? Thanks, Dennis

[Dale Niemann]

I think they are called mast tubes.  A fiberglass tube attached to the boat that the mast slides into.

They are constructed by wraping (6 mil I think) plastic several times around the mast and then fiberglassing around that.  Then when all is hard pulling the mast out of the tube.  I know there are numerous discussions about this on this site.

Dale

[Guest Dennis M]

Thanks, Dale, but I mean the tape bushings that prevent the sections of mast from sliding into one another and allow the mast to be broken down for storage.

Dennis

[PeterP]

Dennis, I do not have a picture but these things are not hard to make. You should have some 3" tape left over. Take the smaller tube section and clean the bottom 16" or so. Take your tape and roll it onto the tube until it is a bit fatter than the INSIDE diameter of the larger section. Cut the tape. Cut a second piece same length. Make a third piece that will make a collar that is a bit fatter than the OUTSIDE dia. of the larger section. Get a piece of plastic- roll out your first tape on it -wet it out with epoxy and wind it onto the smaller tube - (right at the clean end). Not too tight mind so you don't  squeeze out all the good stuff. Check the diameter to make sure you have a bit more than you will need. Add more wraps of tape if needed. Move up the pipe about 10" and make a second ring in the same fashion. Wind on a third ring -right next to it- which will be fatter and will prevent the sections from sliding into each other all the way. Add more epoxy as needed. Keep turning the works as it sets up so you don't end up with major sags and distortions. When it sets up shape to final dimensions. The uppermost ring ends up bullet shaped for easy insertion into the sail sleeve. The fit for the inside rings you looking for is snug. Hair less than that even. Don't worry about a lack of friction allowing the sections to jump apart. Remember the down haul will keep things together very well. And - if you ever feel it is too loose - just paint on a coat of epoxy to snug it up.Good luck -PeterP 

[Ray Frechette Jr]

Rather than a third ring of 3 inch wide tape to form collar...

I simply do two rings, a lower and a top.  Once cured, sand down to allow snug entry.

I then use 1 inch wide tape to make the collar over the top third of the top 3 inch bushing.

This reduces material use and weight aloft.

[PJPiercey]

I rigged up a poor mans lathe.

I used a stop block at the end of the mast to create a true ridge.

I followed this up with fairing compound to make a nice smooth transition.

Paul

[Guest Dennis M]

Thank you gentlemen!

My inquiry did not deal with the difficulty of the procedure, but rather the functionally ugly result with which I was dissatisfied. I wanted to accomplish something a little more neat than what I had. Thanks to PJ for the pics. It gives me a better idea of what I want at the end of the process.

Dennis

[Hirilonde]

This is my Spindrift mast.  It is a take apart mast, but the bushings are similar to what you might do. 

This photo shows the ends of the 3 mast sections. 

left = bottom section, middle = middle section, right = top section:

This is the top section being slipped into the middle section:

http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae106/Hirilonde/B%20and%20B/Wingeinyard008.jpg[/img]

This is the top once slid all the way into the middle section:

http://i962.photobucket.com/albums/ae106/Hirilonde/B%20and%20B/Wingeinyard009.jpg[/img]

Using glass tape, epoxy and later filler I created a stop collar/fairing to make the transition from the larger diameter lower section to the smalled diameter middle section.  The same detail was used for the middle to top sections.