On F32’s the CF mast steps onto a step and is retain in place my the
wedges driven in between the mast and the partner on the cabin roof. A
survey on an F32H I am in the process of purchasing is rotating when
tacking, but the movement is not between the mast and the step, it is
between the step and the keel. There is also evidence that the mast
has moved with relation to the step as well.
This particular boat has an ‘L’ shaped bracket that is supposed to
prevent mast rotation in relltion to the step, not as show in the
manual with a bolt that is fixed through the mast and step. Even so,
this is not the main problem, it is the actual step that is rotating,
by about 3/16th of an inch.
Has anyone any detailed information on Freedom mast steps or has had
work done to correct any issues with the mast steps and is the mast
step supposed to be fixed to the keel or left to ‘float’?
Is the mast supposed top rotate? A number of boats have masts that were
designed to rotate to allow for smoother airflow across the mast and onto the
luff of the sail. If the mast is keel-stepped and designed to rotate, I wonder
how water is prevented from getting down below?
If not, what is the mast step stitting on? Does it rest on top of the keel or on
a surface that is supposed to be stationary? Is it bolted, screwed or epoxied
in place?
Steve Gaber
Sanderling, 1967 C-31 #77
Oldsmar, FL
---- rfurborough <r.furborough@…> wrote:
On F32’s the CF mast steps onto a step and is retain in place my the
wedges driven in between the mast and the partner on the cabin roof. A
survey on an F32H I am in the process of purchasing is rotating when
tacking, but the movement is not between the mast and the step, it is
between the step and the keel. There is also evidence that the mast
has moved with relation to the step as well.
This particular boat has an ‘L’ shaped bracket that is supposed to
prevent mast rotation in relltion to the step, not as show in the
manual with a bolt that is fixed through the mast and step. Even so,
this is not the main problem, it is the actual step that is rotating,
by about 3/16th of an inch.
Has anyone any detailed information on Freedom mast steps or has had
work done to correct any issues with the mast steps and is the mast
step supposed to be fixed to the keel or left to ‘float’?
Posted by Herman and Gail Schiller (hschiller2@…>)
Water is prevented from going below by:
The unstayed rotating mast sits within a tube that projects ABOVE
the level of the deck (like base flashing on a chimney).
There is a bell-shaped upper flashing attached to the mast (using
large hose clamp), and rotating with it. I used a “Fernco” fitting
for my Freedom 25 which is made of heavy-guage neoprene rubber. This
comes down nearly to deck level, and surrounds the pipe projecting
from the deck.
I don’t know what the factory-original upper flashing looked like.
Herm
11:48 PM 6/29/2008, you wrote:
Hi Bob.
Is the mast supposed top rotate? A number of boats have masts that
were designed to rotate to allow for smoother airflow across the
mast and onto the luff of the sail. If the mast is keel-stepped and
designed to rotate, I wonder how water is prevented from getting down below?
If not, what is the mast step stitting on? Does it rest on top of
the keel or on a surface that is supposed to be stationary? Is it
bolted, screwed or epoxied in place?
On F32’s the CF mast steps onto a step and is retain in place my the
wedges driven in between the mast and the partner on the cabin roof. A
survey on an F32H I am in the process of purchasing is rotating when
tacking, but the movement is not between the mast and the step, it is
between the step and the keel. There is also evidence that the mast
has moved with relation to the step as well.
This particular boat has an ‘L’ shaped bracket that is supposed to
prevent mast rotation in relltion to the step, not as show in the
manual with a bolt that is fixed through the mast and step. Even so,
this is not the main problem, it is the actual step that is rotating,
by about 3/16th of an inch.
Has anyone any detailed information on Freedom mast steps or has had
work done to correct any issues with the mast steps and is the mast
step supposed to be fixed to the keel or left to ‘float’?
Steve and Herm, thank you for your replies, but I have solved my own
problem with a little help from Mark Edwards at Perason Composites.
The mast step is a fiberglass top-hat section that should be fixed to
another fiberglass member that is fixed athwartships over the keel.
It seems that the bond, or mechanical fixing of the top-hat section
to the athwartship member has failed. Also, the ‘L’ shaped bracket
was an earlier attempt to prevent the mast rotating on the top-hat
shaped mast step that was further improved on by the use of a through
bolt that is currently shown in the owners manual for the F32 and
other Freedom Yachts.
Aparently, it is the mast wedges that primarliy resists the twist of
the mast, if they are failing to do this and cannot be driven farther
inbetween the mast and the partner they should be replaced. As the
original polyurethane wedges are no longer made and custome ones
could be expensive, Mark recommends ‘Spartite’ as the best sloution
to this problem.