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Ensign Sailing Forum

Placement of new mast step
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Thank for the detailed description.  I will archive this so it can be found by other Ensign owners in the future.

 

Vic Roberts

#2032

 

From: mailer@mail2.clubexpress.com <mailer@mail2.clubexpress.com> On Behalf Of Ensign Sailing Forum
Sent: Friday, December 28, 2018 4:51 PM
To: vic@victorroberts.com
Subject: re: [Ensign Sailing] Placement of new mast step <<$220672946311$>>

 

I use a gin pole as well.  My gin pole attaches to the upper shroud chain plates.  So here is my procedure
1.  Get the mast vertical and on the un-screwed mast step properly on the cabin floor as close the right spot as you can judge it
2.  Attach the forward lowers then un-attach and remove the Gin pole
3.  Attach the forestay, backstay and the upper shrouds.   
4.  Tighten the upper and forward lower shrouds just to the point where almost all the slack is out - still loose but not super loose.  Backstay and forestay should be on but loose.
5.  Attach a long tape measure to the main halyard and un-spool the tape measure while hoisting the main halyard.  Once the tape measure is paid out and all the way to the top of the mast measure to the center hole of the aft chain plates where the aft lower shrouds are pinned.  Each side should have the same measurement from the top of the mast.  
6. While centering the top of the mast in step 5 go down into the cabin and give the butt a good shake.  The step will move around a bit but not too much assuming you had it close to the right place to begin with.  
7.  Once the mast is straight side to side tighten the upper shrouds evenly until you get about 38 to 40 pounds on a Loos 'A' gauge
8.  Check the tape measure on both sides and if its even tighten the forward lowers to 38 to 40 pounds on the Loos 'A' gauge  
9.  Sight up the mast to make sure there is no side to side bend. 
10.  Check your tape measure one more time
11.  Check for Prebend for and aft.  If you don't like the pre-bend you'll want to loosen the uppers and move the step forward or aft 
12  Repeat until happy and then screw in the mast step and finish tuning the rig

I had really no issue with moving the step around to get it where it needed to be safely.  With the partners in the cabin top and shrouds, Forestay and Backstay on, the mast step has very little ability to move without some pretty good force applied.  If you are concerned about the mast moving around have someone stand on the cabin top and hold the mast in place.  

I use a gin pole as well.  My gin pole attaches to the upper shroud chain plates.  So here is my procedure
1.  Get the mast vertical and on the un-screwed mast step properly on the cabin floor as close the right spot as you can judge it
2.  Attach the forward lowers then un-attach and remove the Gin pole
3.  Attach the forestay, backstay and the upper shrouds.   
4.  Tighten the upper and forward lower shrouds just to the point where almost all the slack is out - still loose but not super loose.  Backstay and forestay should be on but loose.
5.  Attach a long tape measure to the main halyard and un-spool the tape measure while hoisting the main halyard.  Once the tape measure is paid out and all the way to the top of the mast measure to the center hole of the aft chain plates where the aft lower shrouds are pinned.  Each side should have the same measurement from the top of the mast.  
6. While centering the top of the mast in step 5 go down into the cabin and give the butt a good shake.  The step will move around a bit but not too much assuming you had it close to the right place to begin with.  
7.  Once the mast is straight side to side tighten the upper shrouds evenly until you get about 38 to 40 pounds on a Loos 'A' gauge
8.  Check the tape measure on both sides and if its even tighten the forward lowers to 38 to 40 pounds on the Loos 'A' gauge  
9.  Sight up the mast to make sure there is no side to side bend. 
10.  Check your tape measure one more time
11.  Check for Prebend for and aft.  If you don't like the pre-bend you'll want to loosen the uppers and move the step forward or aft 
12  Repeat until happy and then screw in the mast step and finish tuning the rig

I had really no issue with moving the step around to get it where it needed to be safely.  With the partners in the cabin top and shrouds, Forestay and Backstay on, the mast step has very little ability to move without some pretty good force applied.  If you are concerned about the mast moving around have someone stand on the cabin top and hold the mast in place.  

Robin,

 

How do you step the mast if the mast step is not secured?  We use a gin pole at Fleet 72 and if the mast step is not secured, the mast would fall over when the gin pole was disconnected if the stays were not already in place.  I suspect we could connect the stays before we removed the gin pole, but that is not how we normally step the mast and must be thought out first.

 

Vic Roberts

#2032

 

From: mailer@mail2.clubexpress.com <mailer@mail2.clubexpress.com> On Behalf Of Ensign Sailing Forum
Sent: Wednesday, December 26, 2018 6:07 PM
To: vic@victorroberts.com
Subject: re: [Ensign Sailing] Placement of new mast step <<$220578193400$>>

 

Thank you for your recommendation!  That may indeed be the easiest way.

 

Thanks again,

Doug

Sent from my iPhone


On Dec 26, 2018, at 11:37 AM, Ensign Sailing Forum <ensignsailing@ensignclass.com> wrote:

Doug,
One way to locate the mast step is to place the step roughly in the correct place on the cabin floor - without screwing it down.  Then step and tune the mast as you normally would making sure to center the mast and have the correct tension in the shrouds.  Only after the mast is properly tuned do you screw down the step.  The great part about this method is that wherever the step ends up on the cabin floor means that the mast has the right tune and the step by definition must be the right place :-).  I did this with mine and the step ended up about an eighth of an inch more to one side than it was after I had replaced the cabin floor and re located the step.

Good Luck!
Robin      

Thank you for your recommendation!  That may indeed be the easiest way.

Thanks again,
Doug

Sent from my iPhone

On Dec 26, 2018, at 11:37 AM, Ensign Sailing Forum <ensignsailing@ensignclass.com> wrote:

Doug,
One way to locate the mast step is to place the step roughly in the correct place on the cabin floor - without screwing it down.  Then step and tune the mast as you normally would making sure to center the mast and have the correct tension in the shrouds.  Only after the mast is properly tuned do you screw down the step.  The great part about this method is that wherever the step ends up on the cabin floor means that the mast has the right tune and the step by definition must be the right place :-).  I did this with mine and the step ended up about an eighth of an inch more to one side than it was after I had replaced the cabin floor and re located the step.

Good Luck!
Robin      
Doug,
One way to locate the mast step is to place the step roughly in the correct place on the cabin floor - without screwing it down.  Then step and tune the mast as you normally would making sure to center the mast and have the correct tension in the shrouds.  Only after the mast is properly tuned do you screw down the step.  The great part about this method is that wherever the step ends up on the cabin floor means that the mast has the right tune and the step by definition must be the right place :-).  I did this with mine and the step ended up about an eighth of an inch more to one side than it was after I had replaced the cabin floor and re located the step.

Good Luck!
Robin      
Esteemed Ensign Experts,

I recently bought a project boat in which I assume the floor under the mast had been redone.  The owner sold the boat to me before the mast step was reseated.  So, I need to properly locate the new mast step and screw it in place.  A few steps of this process have me scratching my head.  I believe I first have to level the boat, then use a plumb bob to mark plumb underneath the middle of the mast hole in the deck.  Then locate the mast step underneath the plumb mark.  Then, screw the metal mast plate in place.  Does that sound right?

If so, I have a few questions about this:
1) what is the best practice for measuring level on the boat?  Is there a certain location to place the level, both laterally and longitudinally?
2) What screws do I use to screw the base down to the deck?
3) Is there something I should do to the deck or screws first to prevent moisture from getting down into the screw holes and rotting out the new flooring?

I looked online for guidance, but didn't find anything that answered these questions - but, of course, I'd gladly take a link to a video or an article that explains it!  Thanks in advance!
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