Need to Know Windex bolt/thread size?

[McIntoshUSA]

We bought our first Sailboat 6 months ago. I recently got up the courage to go up the mast to the spreaders to put a Flag halyard/pulley up. My boat use to have a Windex at the top of the mast. The previous owner said an Osprey broke it off.
There is still the Supporting Shaft and Reference Tabs up on top of the mast. Just NO wind vane. So I would like to replace the wind vane only. My wife does not want me to spend money on a wind vane since she believes a bird will break it off. So I have made one that seems to work pretty good out of basil wood and plastic. Now I need to get up the courage to go to the top of the mast.

Question:
Would anyone know what size bolt/threads the wind vane has. See the attached photos. If I have to, I will make one trip up and take the supporting shaft down so I can go to the store to get a bolt that fits. However, It would be nice If I knew what size the bolt/threads are first and I could only go up the mast once to put it up especially since it will be my first time to the top. I'm still a little chicken, but will do what I have to do. (with a bosun chair and safety line).


Thanks
Mike

 

[caribbeanfrank]

mcIntosh, that is a 1/4-28 thread.

 

[McIntoshUSA]

mcIntosh, that is a 1/4-28 thread.

Thank You Very Much!

 

[celticwinds]

Caribbeanfrank is correct with the thread size. Once you have been up the mast a couple of times it will become second nature to you. Connect both the main and jib halyards to the bosun and relax. Have one person on the main halyard winch and one on the winch for the jib and relax, enjoy the view, and take a picture or two.

 

[mitiempo]

Best to buy the Windex with the bird spike. Birds cannot land on it.

 

[Apex]

Best to buy the Windex with the bird spike. Birds cannot land on it.

^^^
That answer......under $50 is a boating bargain

 

[Chris Patterson]

I put the bird spike on mine in hopes of impaling the Dodo bird that sat on my last one. Dodo shush kabob..

 

[McIntoshUSA]

Attached are a couple of pictures of the wind vane I made. It works great. Made it out of small piece of wood, nails on top to keep birds off. The two ends are made out of plastic pieces in the recycle bin. I have a brass fitting in the middle that a stanless steal bolt goes through. I made the Tabs out of a coat hanger wire and pieces of plastic.

 

[Jackdaw]

Attached are a couple of pictures of the wind vane I made. It works great. Made it out of small piece of wood, nails on top to keep birds off. The two ends are made out of plastic pieces in the recycle bin. I have a brass fitting in the middle that a stanless steal bolt goes through. I made the Tabs out of a coat hanger wire and pieces of plastic.

You don't need the front pointy part of the arrow. It just provides extra wind resistance, which you only want on the back half so it can effectively weathervane.

 

[McIntoshUSA]

You don't need the front pointy part of the arrow. It just provides extra wind resistance, which you only want on the back half so it can effectively weathervane.

Yes you are correct, but it seems to work fine with it since it is allot smaller than the tale. I kind of like it looking like an arrow

 

[Jackdaw]

Yes you are correct, but it seems to work fine with it since it is allot smaller than the tale. I kind of like it looking like an arrow

Plus leaving it alone eliminates the need for a another trip up the mast! ;^)

 

[McIntoshUSA]

Actually I enjoy going up the mast. When I was young,I use to repel. I use abosun chair, safety line, and also make a Swiss seat out of a rope so if the bosun chair was to break the Swiss seat would hold me. If the main halyard was to break than the safety line attached to the genoa line would hold me

I like the Red point and Red tail on the vane. Makes it easy to see from below.