Mast stepping a tempest

[doublezero]

So I have looked and looked for information in regards to the mast configuration on this vesell, to no avail. I have purchased this boat without a day of sailing in my life so I am learning everything as i go. My question is when the mast sits on the step, does it just sit on top with the stays to hold it in place? I see that some boats in the marina have a bolt that goes right through the mast at the step. My mast has no hole at the base... which leads me to believe that it is somewhat of a compression fitting, and the stays that hold it streight.

Can anyone confirm or deny my theory?

 

[Joe11688]

So I have looked and looked for information in regards to the mast configuration on this vesell, to no avail. I have purchased this boat without a day of sailing in my life so I am learning everything as i go. My question is when the mast sits on the step, does it just sit on top with the stays to hold it in place? I see that some boats in the marina have a bolt that goes right through the mast at the step. My mast has no hole at the base... which leads me to believe that it is somewhat of a compression fitting, and the stays that hold it streight.

Can anyone confirm or deny my theory?

Check out this site: http://www.iheartodays.com/model_tempest.html It looks like the mast fits into a step on top of the cabin and the stays hold it in place. My friend's Hunter 27 is set up in the same way. What this means is that you'll need to have the mast set with a crane or small derrick. In some ways this can be advantageous. My friend's stay let go on his boat last year and the mast went into the water but it didn't bend in half like mine did years ago when it happened to my boat. I had to have a new mast, where he only had to have minor repair done to the top of his cabin and have the mast re-set. If you can store your boat with the mast up, it will be less expensive every year. Whether you could have the mast and step changed over to a hinged tabernacle, I don't really know. One of our other YC members owns a Bristol 24 and he was able to do it to his boat. In fact, I used my Gin Pole rig to raise his mast a couple of years ago and it went up with no problem at all.
Joe

 

[doublezero]

Thanx

Good to hear, I do have the ability to store with the mast up, just means I wil need to alter the cover for next year... and i do like the point about the mast not breaking if a fall were to happen. Most likely that I will leave the configuration as is.

Info apreciated.

Brent

 

[Joe11688]

Brent,
If what I read is true, the mast on your boat is a little shorter than the mast on my 1986 O'Day 222 which is 27' long and weighs about 60 lbs. So I don't see why you couldn't convert it over to a stainless steel hinged tabernacle if you wanted to. Rudy Nickerson of D & R Marine could tell you for sure. He also has all the parts for O'Days and is very knowledgeable about them having worked for them years back.
http://www.drmarine.com/ It looks like a real classic boat. Good luck with it.
Joe

 

[doublezero]

Im at a really large marina where almost all leave their masts up to store. It cost about $130 to mast/unmast. Do you think having the conversion would be benificial for me if im not having to move the boat in the off season?

 

[Joe11688]

I don't think so. Not if you leave it at a marina with the mast up and you don't have any drawbridges to contend with. One of my friends owns a Pearson 23 C. It's a catboat with a fin keel with a free standing mast that is stepped on the keel similar to yours. He keeps his boat at a boatyard up the river with the mast up in the off season. Next year the new drawbridge on the river will be operating and the vertical clearance is 60.' We won't ever have to worry about making it under that. At any rate, I wouldn't bother converting it over if you don't have to. Good luck with it.
Joe