My O'day 192 has the original mast step from 1986. It need to be replaced. I would like to replace it with a stronger, proper, hinged step. Are there any recommendations?
Hinged mast step
- Thread starter gdelano57@gmail.com
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Yes I do have a good solution to your problem. You probably have that cheap cast aluminum mast step that was manufactured in France for the Z-Spar mast and boom with internal halyards and control lines. If the mast is Z-Spar with the internal halyards, there is a small sheave at the base of the mast for the Jib halyard right? I had the same set-up on my 86 O'Day 222 and I hated it. When I lost my mast back in the 90s off Newport RI, I took what was left of my mast to Rig-Rite in Warwick RI and they made up a new mast for me with some changes that I wanted done. First of all, I wanted a stainless steel hinged mast tabernacle with a utility plate under it. The rigger rerouted the Jib halyard so that it would exit the mast from somewhere near where the main halyard comes out. The rigger was able to use most of the other extrusions from my old mast, which was OK with me. Also, the upper stays were still OK and he used those over again. While my mast was being put together, the rigger gave me a measurement for the height of the bottom half of the hinge tabernacle which I mounted on a Teak block on top of the cabin. This height would make up for the space that the Jib halyard sheave took up, in order to get my old stays to fit. Actually, I didn't know this at the time but adding that Teak block under my mast Tabernacle would allow me to have more mast/cabin clearance for raising and lower my mast with a Gin Pole years later. So it really worked out great for me. If I had to do it all over again, I would have had him do my mast the same way except for having him install a "steaming light" 2/3s of the way up the mast. I removed it last year and now I have an ugly hole in my mast where it once was. So here's my recommendation: Find a good rigger to install the hinged tabernacle and have him reroute the Jib halyard. I recommend installing the utility plate and also a block of some kind if you ever plan on installing a roller furler. My Tabernacle is a Kenyon, but Dwyer manufactures one just like it and it may be cheaper. Here's some pics of my set up. The top white halyard with red flecks on the Gib halyard in the pictures. The last pic shows the mast in it's lowest position being raised by the Gin Pole with the CDI Roller Furler attached to the Gin Pole as it goes up. It's a one man operation. Good luck!
Joe
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Ahoy Rich!
My lower stay broke and all I heard was a loud snap, and in the flick of an eye, my mast, sails, and rigging were in the water. The mast was bent in half. I was able to save everything except my fore stay, which came out of the T ball slot on the mast and slide into the water. I connected my small stubby emergency antenna to my VHF to make a security call in hope that other vessels would use caution in that area until I was able to get my spars, sails, and rigging aboard. When I got everything all on board and tied down, I motored the 15 miles back to where I had put in on the Taunton River. It was a fun day. I'm glad that I had insurance.
Joe
I remember that there was a strand broken on that stay and I neglected to replace that stay when I discovered it. Lessons learned: If you have a stay with a broken strand, replace it right away.
Joe
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