Every year when I step the mast on my beloved 1986 Oday 192, I curse the flimsy and difficult to align mast base to mast step arrangement. Does anyone know of an easier /safer/alternate stepping? I've already broken and had rewelded the ears on the mast step. It's very difficult to align the base and mast for pinning while manhandng a 24 foot mast. ALONE, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE!
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steps
dr marine and dwyer sell a mast tabernacle that has 2 pins, one holds mast base and acts as a hinge and the second 'locks' the mast up. to is a easy conversion, lower bolts/screws into where the old tab was, and the other has a cast al stub that goes into the mast and bolted/screwed into place. only problem is if you have a rake in the mast, if so, a wedge must be made to go between the cabin top amd lower part of the tab.
dr marine and dwyer sell a mast tabernacle that has 2 pins, one holds mast base and acts as a hinge and the second 'locks' the mast up. to is a easy conversion, lower bolts/screws into where the old tab was, and the other has a cast al stub that goes into the mast and bolted/screwed into place. only problem is if you have a rake in the mast, if so, a wedge must be made to go between the cabin top amd lower part of the tab.
Stepping an O'Day 192 mast
A strong Stainless Steel mast step as Bruce describes, is the way to go. I changed mine over on my 222, when I lost my mast years ago. The internal Jib halyard was re-routed to exit the mast near the Main Halyard,instead of the sheave on the old flimsey mast step. I use an elaborate mast holding device on my stern pulpit to hold my mast at an angle to enable me to have the clearance from the companion way hatch, to attach the pin to the tabernacle. I had ordered my boat with a regular stern rail, and asked that winches and tracks w/cars be left off the boat, to be relocated later to the combing for easier single handing. I trailered every week for 8 years, raising and lowering my mast. Where you just step your mast once a season, I would recommend that you build a mast crotch out of wood, and attach it to your gudgions. This will give you the clearance needed to attach the pivot pin to the mast step. Use a 60 ft. 3/8 rope and connect it to your Jib halyard shackle,which can be run all the way up, and cleated to the mast jam cleat. Run the rope through a sheave block attached to hole near your fore stay plate, and run it aft to be held in your hand while you lift the mast while pushing on it with your shoulder. All stays need to be connected except the fore stay, which is bungied to the mast. As the mast gets higher, pull on the rope and take as much slack out of it as posible. Take the Rope around the mast, over The Gooseneck,(this is important),and tie the rope to the Starboard bow cleat. Your hands are now free to take the bungy off the forestay on the mast, and attach the forestay to the bow plate and insert the other pin to the tabernackle. A friend of mine has a roller on his mast crotch which allows him to roll the mast aft. That way, you don't have to worry about slipping off the boat as you walk the mast aft. You could use just about anything to hold your mast in position to insert the pin,just use your imagination. That's about it, Ron. I hope that I was able to help you solve the problem. Good luck and smooth sailing! Joe
A strong Stainless Steel mast step as Bruce describes, is the way to go. I changed mine over on my 222, when I lost my mast years ago. The internal Jib halyard was re-routed to exit the mast near the Main Halyard,instead of the sheave on the old flimsey mast step. I use an elaborate mast holding device on my stern pulpit to hold my mast at an angle to enable me to have the clearance from the companion way hatch, to attach the pin to the tabernacle. I had ordered my boat with a regular stern rail, and asked that winches and tracks w/cars be left off the boat, to be relocated later to the combing for easier single handing. I trailered every week for 8 years, raising and lowering my mast. Where you just step your mast once a season, I would recommend that you build a mast crotch out of wood, and attach it to your gudgions. This will give you the clearance needed to attach the pivot pin to the mast step. Use a 60 ft. 3/8 rope and connect it to your Jib halyard shackle,which can be run all the way up, and cleated to the mast jam cleat. Run the rope through a sheave block attached to hole near your fore stay plate, and run it aft to be held in your hand while you lift the mast while pushing on it with your shoulder. All stays need to be connected except the fore stay, which is bungied to the mast. As the mast gets higher, pull on the rope and take as much slack out of it as posible. Take the Rope around the mast, over The Gooseneck,(this is important),and tie the rope to the Starboard bow cleat. Your hands are now free to take the bungy off the forestay on the mast, and attach the forestay to the bow plate and insert the other pin to the tabernackle. A friend of mine has a roller on his mast crotch which allows him to roll the mast aft. That way, you don't have to worry about slipping off the boat as you walk the mast aft. You could use just about anything to hold your mast in position to insert the pin,just use your imagination. That's about it, Ron. I hope that I was able to help you solve the problem. Good luck and smooth sailing! Joe
ODAY 192 MAST STEPPING
JOE, THANKS FOR YOUR EXCELLANT ADVICE. BY THE TIME I READ IT I HAD ALREADY RESTEPPED MY MAST(CURSING ALL THE WAY). BUT I WILL LOK INTO YOUR SUGGESTIONS FOR NEXT YEAR. RON
JOE, THANKS FOR YOUR EXCELLANT ADVICE. BY THE TIME I READ IT I HAD ALREADY RESTEPPED MY MAST(CURSING ALL THE WAY). BUT I WILL LOK INTO YOUR SUGGESTIONS FOR NEXT YEAR. RON
ODAY 192 MAST STEPPING
BRUCE, THANKS FOR YOUR ADVICE . I WILL CONTACT DR MARINE TO SEE ABOUT CHANGING MY STEPPING. OR---- AS I'M GETTING OLDER EVERY DAY --I MAY JUST GIVE IT UP AND LET MY MARINA DO THE JOB $$$$$$$ RON
BRUCE, THANKS FOR YOUR ADVICE . I WILL CONTACT DR MARINE TO SEE ABOUT CHANGING MY STEPPING. OR---- AS I'M GETTING OLDER EVERY DAY --I MAY JUST GIVE IT UP AND LET MY MARINA DO THE JOB $$$$$$$ RON
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