stick-less

[Killick69]

Took Night Cap to Fenwicks Marina (almost did not get there, but that is another story). Now have mast, Boom and Harbour Bridge (mast step) on the front lawn. We managed to loosen 11 of the 12 bolts holding the mast step and had to grind the head off the 12th one. The mast lifted off with the mast step attached, but the step was then easy to separate from the mast. Gentleman at the marina said with one of the THs they did, boat started to lift outta the water, as step would not separate from mast and the bolts on the step had not been removed. Things do not look bad at all and I am confidents when she goes back on the boat all will 100%. I was relieved to see the mast step is held by s/s bolts (not self tappers), so they must screw into female threaded goodies. The foot of the mast is still attached to the harbour bridge and it would appear the mast foot was not attached (rivetted or similair) to the mast. The foot is well and truly held to the step by something like sikaflex. The mast step is not too bad and will I am sure be salvageable. Anyone where I can get it sandblasted? Next week hopefully will be able to start the strip down and start sanding the mast. I was most relieved to see that there is no sign of damage/water ingress under the mast step.

We had to sweet talk some traffic controllers to get to the boat, as Parsley bay was off limits to everyone from 5 am to midday. A helicopter was lifting beams for a roof for a recreational hall towards the back of Patonga. Had to park the car some distance away and when we wanted to return to the car to go home, had to wait for the helicopter to clear the area. A busy and rewarding day, but now the real work starts.

[Killick69]

Mast is 9.55 metres long, which apparently is about a metre longer than Mark 2 and 3 masts.
So does that make mark 3s faster? or ones with longer sticks anyway?

[storm petrel]

I have copies of the Mk11 drawings which give the Mk11 mast section as 9.400m. Not sure about the Mk1? A rigger told me that the mast and boom lengths vary a little even between Top Hats of the same Mk. I do not think 6" would give you too much of an advantage. If you get her back in the water by the 5th why not bring to the HRYC Regatta and test her pace against some other Top Hats.

Cheers,
Mark

[bearmcnally]

If your mast is 1.0 m higher than designed .It's a good chance your boom is higher ? so the center of effort will be higher up , which would make the yacht want to round up or have more weather helm than normal unless the mast is raked back more than 150 mm as designed.(I think? )I doubt you'd go any faster ? At least with the boom higher up it won't hit you on the head I suppose !



Cheers Bear

[Killick69]

You raise some interesting points. I think the boom is high/higher. This might be of benefit to me, as the bottom 4 or 5 inches of the mast is corroded (pitted) from sitting in dust and sand in the mast step. I am wondering about cutting this bottom bit of the mast off. Then either I end up with boom lower or, refit gooseneck, provided this does not bring gooseneck too close to other fittings/exit points from mast. If anyone can measure and let me know distance from bottom of mast step to bottom of boom, I will say thanks. If I cut the mast at the bottom and raise the gooseneck, the mainsail luff might be too long. Shaun, do you recall how the mainsail related to the mast? Bear there was not extra bend in the mast and the boom was pretty horizontal.
Cheers, John

[bearmcnally]

hi John

If you shorten your stick don't forget the standing rigging will be to long then ? Re mast rake there won't be any bend in your mast it will lean back more ,and you will need a plumb bob on your halyard to measure the distance back from the gooseneck where your main is shackled on to the mast .

Cheers Bear

[Killick69]

Work is progressing. John from Whale Spars is going to make up the rigging for me. I have removed everything from the mast and will try paint stripper (going to get the one made from soy beans) next week. Cut the sides of the mast step (bits alongside the mast) down by about 20mm, to good metal (the top edges were as thin as 1mm in places. I also had to cut a fair bit off on the Starboard leading lower edge to get rid of the corrosion. Will take it in next week to get it sandblasted. The mast will be shortened by 65mm to cut out the corroded lower portion. I will add a plastic insert under the mast foot, which will raise it about 10mm. So overall loss in boom height will be about 55mm. So far I have not been able to locate exact replacements for the 2 steaming lights. They are/were round ones either side of mast,with glass blacked out except in forward-facing direction. Still seeking information from anyone who has re-fitted a mast step to find out what they used as sealer, especially along the centreline (mine had Plaster of Paris like material here to bridge a large gap). I have not started on the boom yet, but know i will need a new goose neck or at least the plate that goes onto the mast. Still planning to be on the harbour for New years eve.
Cheers, John

[bearmcnally]

I suppose if the Soy bean mixture doesn't work ! You could throw some chicken in with it ? and turn it into a stir-fry .

Cheers Bear

[Dolphin]

Oh bear you're silly, read the 2nd last sentence he's got a Goose neck and a plate. Just needs a red and you've got a meal.

Oh, sorry, I thought this was the Menus post again. Now where's Dianna?