Loose mast deck ring. Vision 36

[Mike H.]

Last weekend I spent some hours tightening up the 10 bolts that circle around the mast where it penetrates the deck.

The bolts were so loose, I could spin them with my fingers.

Has anyone gone through this and doe anyone know if this is a routine operation or do I have a bigger problem?

This is the second time I have had to do this and they leave little room for getting wrenches or sockets between the ceiling and the deck.

We drive the boat pretty hard sometimes.

 

[Rick D]

Once on my 32

Last weekend I spent some hours tightening up the 10 bolts that circle around the mast where it penetrates the deck.

The bolts were so loose, I could spin them with my fingers.

Has anyone gone through this and doe anyone know if this is a routine operation or do I have a bigger problem?

This is the second time I have had to do this and they leave little room for getting wrenches or sockets between the ceiling and the deck.

We drive the boat pretty hard sometimes.

I had to do it once in nine years. I's been a long time tho, so I don't recall how often I checked them. I doubt driving it hard has much to do with it. I do wonder about when the boat is stationary and you sometimes get that mast vibration. Wish I had a solution other than trying some lock tight.

 

[Mike H.]

I had to do it once in nine years. I's been a long time tho, so I don't recall how often I checked them. I doubt driving it hard has much to do with it. I do wonder about when the boat is stationary and you sometimes get that mast vibration. Wish I had a solution other than trying some lock tight.

Now that you mention it, the boat does vibrate in the berth sometimes. It's like a little earth quake and the mast shakes. I'm sure bashing into the waves doesn't help.

 

[Rick D]

My thought is...

Now that you mention it, the boat does vibrate in the berth sometimes. It's like a little earth quake and the mast shakes. I'm sure bashing into the waves doesn't help.

... that the mast is pretty rigid at the ring when supported by the sails and wind and would be less likely to cause loosening than vibration at the dock which (in my inexpert opinion) might be more like having an impact wrench over time. If I remember right, I used to cinch up the mainsheet with the main halyard run out to the back of the boom to reduce that vibration. But, as I said, it's been a long time.