Thanks Justin and Tom: But wouldn't you know: I've had this boat 3 months, and now (after reading your info)I get down to really looking close at the mast foot, I find that something got broken off at the aft of the casting. I assume the broken-off bit featured the ears you refer to. Also the tabernacle casting at the rear has slots on either side which I assume once held the bar on which the mast was supposed to pivot. SO: I am now hoping I can lift off the mast vertically as with my previous boat (an Eastwind 25). I am also hoping I will find that for safety the mast sits in a shallow recess in the tabernacle (I've been out in 20 knots and nothing moved). If you have any patience left for me I'd be glad of a last comment.