tophatyachts.com

on my boat it does not have the harbour bridge mast step and I wonder if it spreads the load enough. Mark on Storm Petral said in a discussion sometime last year that he had a rigger look at his and mentioned that he had replaced one with aluminium. I would like to refit a harbour bridge style mast step and am hoping that Mark will be able to give the contract details for that rigger. Does anyone else have any views on mast steps and the strength of the mast and roof top if the harbour bridge ms is removed? THanks Peter

My Mark 3 Top Hat does not have the "harbour bridge" mast step and everything else is built for strength and safety.

I believe it is original, so I am not at all worried about it's strength.

Regards ... Maggsy
Sea Monkey

Hey Peter...

You have seen mine - no harbour bridge... is this just on Mk1 & 2's... you have me curious about the history of these...

K

I have a Mark III with the bridge, so I'm not sure whether they were phased out, or whether your particular boats have had a re-rig that caused them to be removed.

With mine, most of the halyard blocks are shackled to the arch part as it's the best, most sturdy place for them.

Hopefully someone will chime in with some history of whether they were standard up until the end?

Michael

I have seen galvanised and stainless steel 'harbour bridge' mast steps and the guy from 'Roospars' told me he had an aluminium one made for a recent re-rig of a Tophat. I believe 'Central Coast Marine Installations' fabricated the mast steps for the Tophats (MkII and MkIII) made by Formit in Wyong and still have them available for purchase. I am not sure of the price but someone on the forum mentioned $600. I will be replacing mine when I next rerig, but this will not be untill 2013-14 and I am thinking about 1/2" aluminium.

Cheers,
Mark

Evening All,

My Mk1 had its bridge replaced with an aluminium one in 2004.

It was made somewhere in Mona Vale or on the central coast.

I'm waiting for the previous owner to get back to me with details of where and the cost in 2004.

P h i l l i p
SEAKA