Cutting holes on mast

[markwbird]

I want to install a spinnaker sheet. This will require cutting at least one or two holes in the mast as I want it to run it inside the mast. This will need to be a slotted hole so it's more than just drilling. What is the best tool and method to do this? The mast is off the boat and lying down so I have easy access. Anyone out there done this?

 

[kloudie1]

H-34 Spin Halyard

Hey, Mark.. the spin halyard on my boat enters the mast on the top (port side) and exits through the sheave on the mast bottom .. here is a picture of the top showing the black/white spin halyard entering through a fairlead .. from there, it goes straight down to the mast base sheave, through the organizer, and out the tunnel at the winch..
Previous owner had moved the jib halyards out of the mast base by exiting through a fairlead above the pulleys and turning at the mast base with a hinged sheave to the organizers.

 

[markwbird]

Cutting a hole

Thanks for the pics Kloudie. That is pretty much what I had in mind. I am not sure, though how best to go about the actual cutting of the hole in the aluminum. Did you do this yourself?

 

[kloudie1]

Previous owner had it done .. They did a fine job and I have no problems with chafe or friction. He raced the boat out of Marina Del Rey (Calif.) and had the work done locally back in the 1986 timeframe.

 

[justsomeguy]

Dremel or similar rotary cutting tool, then a fine file should work to clean up the edges.

 

[kloudie1]

I would think that you'd have to eyeball where the halyard is going to fall with the top spin block kind of in position anticipated with spin deployed.. I guess the Schaefer plates come with a template ..the hole could be cut with a vibrating "Multitool" with a metal cutting blade. Probably could be done with mast up but much easier with mast down.

EDIT yup, a dremel type with a cutting wheel would be fine too.