Forty-five years of paint and weather
I thought for a moment that I might get away with stepping the mast from the dock down to the boat, but the public boat ramp on our lake doesn't even have a dock, so I'd have to motor home to our dock to try and step the mast. Besides, who knows what I would encounter at the many other trailered destinations we planned to cruise from. Ultimately, one day, I would loose control of the mast an ultimately find myself and a badly damaged mast on the asphalt of a boat ramp. The solution is one that was common on many coastal boats in the prior two centuries - a tabernacle. With only a fore-stay and a couple of halyards to contend with, the HA-18 is a relatively quick mast to rig without the need for shrouds, spreaders, back-stay, or head-sail.
A post on a catboat forum from author Rick Spilman led me to the blog of Miguel Angel San Miguel and his restoration of the HA-18 Platero. Thanks to both Rick's and Miguel's posts, I had some nice examples of successful DIY tabernacles. Platero's Tabernacle Peregrine
Upon removing the mast step from the bottom of the mast, there was a stinky wet piece of foam rubber wedged up inside with some 1/8" line tied around it. I pulled on the foam rubber and line and eventually removed 22 feet of line and foam rubber squares about every 3 feet. I kept wondering what its purpose was - maybe to absorb condensation? Then it dawned on me - to keep the wire that runs the length of the mast up to the anchor light from slapping inside the mast and to also deaden the potential sound of the halyards ringing at anchor. I've decided I'll try using the several diameters of pool noodles and pipe insulation available when I run the new wiring. At a minimum they are closed cell foam and will potentially add enough flotation to help support the mast if it went overboard or if I ever experienced a knock-down.
I chose the material Rick Spilman recommended, a 4 foot length of structural schedule 40 T6061 aluminum pipe.
Over several weekends I stripped 45 years of paint off the entire mast, also enabling the pipe to sleeve over the lower 4 feet of mast.
I attempted to remove the mahogany masthead, including trying to bang it out with 24 feet of 1 1/2" PVC pipe as a ramrod, but it didn't budge. I'll have to refinish it in place.
Over several weekends I stripped 45 years of paint off the entire mast, also enabling the pipe to sleeve over the lower 4 feet of mast.
I attempted to remove the mahogany masthead, including trying to bang it out with 24 feet of 1 1/2" PVC pipe as a ramrod, but it didn't budge. I'll have to refinish it in place.
Rick, thank you for posting your tabernacle mast modification. It has been about 5 years since you made it. Not sure if you still own the boat. How has the mast held up? ...looking to do the same for my HA18. I like your selection of aluminum better than steel. Thank you. Vince
ReplyDelete