I just decommissioned my H240 for the season and, for the third year in a row, after lowering the mast I discovered the mast pin was bent. This obviously makes it a challenge to get the pin out. I can't figure out why this is happening. Any thoughts on what might cause this?
What would cause a bent mast pin?
- Thread starter jblersch
- Start date
That would be my first guess. If you have any slack in the shrouds or stays, the mast might be "wiggling" and that could bend your pin.
Only time we bent a pin on the 260 was when we were unstepping the mast. Mast pin was pulled partially out and the mast lifted a bit out of the shoe and then rotated a bit - one spreader up a bit and one down. Needed a new pin!
post a photo of the foot of your mast, and the tabernacle... its possible the holes are in the wrong position and its bending when raising and lowering..
when the mast is in the working position, the mast should bear on the tabernacle and NOT the pin, and the pin should be not be tight, but only snug so it holds the foot of the mast into position. if the pin is tight, its puts unnecessary stress on the tabernacle.
when raising and lowering, you should always keep the pin loose so it does not bind.
if your rigging is out of proper adjustment, but snug, it should not have any affect on the pin, but if the pin hole in the mast and the hole in tabernacle does not align properly, it can bend the pin when the rigging gets loaded.... a couple pics could help us identify your problem
when the mast is in the working position, the mast should bear on the tabernacle and NOT the pin, and the pin should be not be tight, but only snug so it holds the foot of the mast into position. if the pin is tight, its puts unnecessary stress on the tabernacle.
when raising and lowering, you should always keep the pin loose so it does not bind.
if your rigging is out of proper adjustment, but snug, it should not have any affect on the pin, but if the pin hole in the mast and the hole in tabernacle does not align properly, it can bend the pin when the rigging gets loaded.... a couple pics could help us identify your problem
I wonder if the pin is bent when it comes out of one hole when the mast wants to turn when released from that side without stabilizing the base of the mast to keep it from turning. In addition it could as it is stated the rigging is not tuned. Check the distance of the mast side to side first about 7 feet up to the shroud chain plated and then take a top measurement side to side to chain plates . Also check the distance of the holes from them to the deck straight down where the bolt attaches the side braces to the mast. Also look up the sail slide track to see if true and straight. It could have something to do with the side bars that are used to stabilize the mast as part of the rig. Until we see photos and have measurements, this is a crap shoot guessing.
Thanks for these ideas - that's very helpful. I can't get photos and measurements now as, sadly, the boat is now stored for her winter hibernation. I thought I had tuned it well this spring, but maybe not - I'm still a rank amateur. These ideas give me great things to try come spring. Thanks guys.
I would think that if the pin has become bent more or less symmetrically at either end, particularly if the outer ends are turned up, it may be that the foot of the mast is not resting on the tabernacle but is pressing down on the pin. If that is the case, as suggested, maybe the holes in the two pieces of metal are not aligned, or maybe one piece has been replaced with a fitting not quite correct for the other. If one end only is bent, maybe that has something to do with letting the mast tilt to one side while stepping or unstepping.
Thanks Peter. The pin is bent only at one end - the port side. I'm thinking off the top of my head here, but maybe the struts aren't adjusted evenly causing the mast to go up slightly tilted?
JB. I think you likely have the answer. When stepping or unstepping the mast while it is in its cradle and as you are inserting or removing the pin the mast can rotate in its shoe. (One side lifts up) With the pin part way in the mast base but before the pin makes it through the second opening in shoe, the mast can spin and cause the pin to bend. The struts have little to no ability to prevent this rotation with the mast in the lowered position.
JB; you are answering what may be wrong due to possisble improper adjustment of the struts. First the requested information so I can help you.