tophatyachts.com

I have a mk1 Tophat "Amante" in Lake Macquarie. I have not had her long and havent been able to spend much time working on her as I live 5 hrs away, I have no history on her. The day before yesterday it come to me that there is no mast step like other Tophats.The mast sits on a pad just a bit larger than its cross dimension, 4 bolts that have nuts 2 each side of the for cabin bulkhead. There is no imediate standout impression when looking at the bottom of the mast that a bridge has been removed. I have been worried and looked at every mk1 picture that I could lay my hands on. In the gallery , pg 2 there is a photo labelled "Iluka" posted by Brainless, this Tophat has the same arrangement ie no mast bridge. Question is were there a rare couple built this way or has someone decided to get around a derelict bridge by not replacing same.

Can you post a photo Ivan?

I think I have seen that arrangement before but on a raised glass pad.
Is there any evidence, inside or out, that the other 8 bolts were ever there?

Is your internal fit-out the same as everybody else or is it a custom build?
If it's radically different from standard they may have done away with the Girder during the original fitout.

If there is no sign of stress in the surrounding fibreglass, I don't think you have much to worry about.

PM Brainless for extra comments.

Hello Phillip,
No evidence of stress, some of the running rigging suggests it has been raced hard. Has a loose foot main fully battened off an S 80. Standard fitout with headin forr'd cabin. Photo of vessel is from the broker when it was for sale. No signs visible of other 8 bolts. I had never been aboard a rigged Tophat before and only just realized the mast bridge was non conforming.

Hi Ivan,
Well I'll be dammed you're right my tophat (Iluka) is missing the mast bridge too! Just had a look at a photo and it has a small stainless plate. I've never noticed any issue with this set up, down below i have double bulkhead between the main cabin the the v birth, I think this takes the mast loads. I have taken the mast out before I think there is an insert that the mast fits on. I'll attach a photo tomorrow.
Cheers
Nick

Picture of iluka's mast base. This was when she was up on the slip, hence the straps arround the mast.

Same setup with a more elaborate plate. Mine is bare basic. Glad to see I'm not Robinson Crusoe I was worried some bodgy fix had been undertaken. Amante has a transom cutout, it took me back a bit when I first saw it,as I had only ever seen wells, searched the site a bit & saw others.The gallery shot of Iluka shows a nice looking mk1& I was relieved to see the mast .Fair bit of work to be done on Amante to look half as good as all is a bit rough & neglected but seems to be as solid as a rock. Needs slipping something fierce & new running rigging , the main halyard sheave block does'nt roll freely only goes about 1/2 way up , the mast will have to come down.

I recently realised that the bridge mast base is a great sturdy design. It distributes the masts weight evenly over a bigger area. It may certainly have more strength but may not be necessary. If i were to replace my mast bridge/step id use exactly the same design.