Mast Base Pin

[David Hoch]

Folks,On my 2005 260 I'm having some trouble pulling the mast base pin out once the mast is lowered. Seems the mast doesn't come down into the mast crutch - it goes to the port side of it. Looks like the mast crutch is favoring the starboard side a bit. Also, the mast seems to want to rotate and that puts pressure on the pin. I don't have the stock pin yet - just a bolt for now. I'm sure the pin (without threads) will pass through the base and mast easier but it seems that if I can align the holes better to start with it will go more smoothly.Have any of you experienced this? Is there a way to keep the pressure off the pin so it goes in and out easily?David HochS/V Abundance

 

[Russell]

Check mast crutch

I'm sure you have probably checked this, but it is possible to have the mast crutch in backwards, and I think it would favor the starboard side making it difficult to remove the pin.

 

[Tom2909]

Strut adjustment

With the mast down, remove the struts where they attach at the deck fittings, then get the mast in its proper lowered position so the hinge pin is easy to remove/install. Adjust the strut lenghts by turning them -- there is a threaded bolt at the top that has a lock nut, and you will probably have to back off the lock nut. Adjust the struts so that they fit right on their deck fittings, then reattach them.Test that the pin is easy to remove/replace again. On my boat, the struts are under compression when the mast is raised. This means that the strut pivots are a little off the axis of the mast pin, and I am not sure if this was intended by design or a mfg flaw. Since they are under compression, they tend to bow out a little when the mast is up.Fair winds,Tom

 

[George H260]

Dave, not to worry, we’ve all gone through this learning curve. You'll have to learn by trial and error the right technique. After a few times it becomes pretty easy. This works well for me.When lowered to the crutch, the mast should come within a few inches of the center of the crutch. You might have to ease it over to center it, but if it's off more than say 6 inches you may have an an alignment problem at the base of the mast. Raising the crosspiece 6 inches or so and installing a roller on the crosspiece makes it much easier to move the mast forward to the pulpit after it is unpinned. I think Jim Seamans has some pics on his web site that show how he installed the roller and raised the crosspiece. This change to the stock crutch takes a lot of the "pucker factor" out of the process.Unpinning the mast is not hard once you do it a few times. If you don't have the stock pin, I'd order one from Hunter. You want a close fit so the mast does not twist in its base. I found the perfect tool for installing and removing the pin. I use a small 6" pry bar to move the mast from side to side to take pressure off the pin and allow it to slide out. This pry bar has a small hammer on one end and a flat flange on the other. You can stick it into the gin pole hole to get leverage and move the mast from from side to side to take pressure off the pin. I also use a screwdriver that is slightly smaller in diameter to tap the pin out once you get the two holes in close alignment. No need for excessive force, it should come out fairly easy with a little persuasion. Any hardware store/Lowes/Home Depot carries this tool. Hope that helps.

 

[BobSail]

Possibly the strut deck brackets

David:We encountered the same problem. In our instance, the struts are not aligned down the centerline of the boat, so the mast tends to go sideways as it is lowered. We discovered the problem lies in the strut deck brackets, which were not mounted perpendicular to the boat's longitudinal centerline. One is 1" aft, and the other 1" forward. It's enough to magnify the alignment at the end of the mast so that it will not fit in the pulpit yoke. We did not re-adjust the struts, since the vertical alignment should be ok (presuming the deck mounting pads are at equal elevation and the struts are adjusted to equal length), and is more critical since it influences the standing mast alignment. So far our approach is to remove the struts to trailer the boat. Make sure the interior mast compression sleeve is firmly in place (see owner's manual schematic). You might want to take a look at your strut bracket alignment prior to adjusting the struts.

 

[Bob15530]

Drill out the holes a little

Some might cringe at this, but I purchased a new pin from Hunter and rounded the edges to make the alignment work better. I also re-drilled my holes with the next size larger drill bit. It makes the pin installation & removal much easier. It also helps to have an awl to align the pin when installing and help with removal if the pin gets stuch half way out.

 

[ross]

Replacement Mast Pins

Here's the link to the US Spars website. Here you can order replacement mast parts, including pins. The pin (part #1316) is $8.25.Filing the end of the pin into a point makes it easier to push through the holes in the base of the mast.

 

[David Hoch]

Mast Base Pin - Thanks

Thanks to all of you for your help on this one. I was pretty frustrated last night trying to lower the mast and get it secured properly for trailering for the first time.I think you're all on track with the mast pin issue. I believe the struts are a lot of the alignment problem since I've noticed different tension/compression on them when the mast is up or down. Perhaps re-drilling a hole in one of the deck mounts would be an easy fix. There must be a geometry that allows them to be properly adjusted both with the spar up and down. the problem is achieving it!I am going to do the roller modification by raising the roller axis and installing a new roller. Hopefully the mast will clear the bimini then.I was worried that I would miss all the support I had on the Mac listserve over the years I owned a 1988 Mac D. Now I see that this group is equally if not more supportive and willing to provide help and just as important, very knowledgable about the issues. I appreciate the support and am going to need more as I work on this boat.David HochLas Vegas

 

[Reudi ross]

My struts don't have any adjustment

points. 98 260 w/ charleston spar mast. My 99 240 had threaded adjustments in the end of the strut rods. I think I will try drilling the holes out a tad. It's a real pain in the butt to get the pin in.

 

[william3045]

i had some new pins made......

....at a local machine shop from 3/8" stainless. after an incident at the end of the season when i was unpinning my mast and it almost took an act of god and more than a little blood to get the back pin out i moved this project to the front burner! i had the loops put in the ends and welded so i have a place to get a finger, pry bar, winch, or whatever. +, i now have a convenient extra place to belay to or add a sheave. they have not been cut to length, drilled for pins, or tapered yet. (a winter project). at the same time i had the shop straighten the mast baseplate that was twisted by a previous owner. seems like about $40.00 as i recall with the baseplate being straightened. things now fit together smoothely although i have not actually stepped the mast. (i had a new raiseable crutch made too that extends to about 10'. (from the base)