I know there has been some discussion in the past on mast base
movement. First generation freedoms appeared to use a L bracket, one
hole in mast step base and two in the mast as a mast retention device
and maybe to help prevent mast twisting. Later versions included a thru
bolt with rubber sleeve along a channel in the ‘tophat’ mast step. My
PH39 schooner has the older setup and the foremast twisted quite a bit
in very heavy going to windward recently. Looks like the mast un-
weighted during the up and down motion on the waves enough times to
slowly loosen the bolts and allow quite a bit of mast rotation. I’m
thinking of using a Guarhauer mast collar setup with two 90 degree
tabs welded on to tightly hold the mast to the step and to prevent
twisting. I’m also going to replace the poly wedges with Spartite at
the partners. Any thoughts on all this?
I have an F-33 which I think has a similar issue and arrangement
as the F-39. I had the masts unstopped each winter for 4 winters (inside
storage) so I was able to try different solutions and then evaluate abrasion
etc. The first year the yard stepped it they put no wedges at all (at the deck
collar or the base). The collars were covered up so I didn’t notice
during the season but when I unstopped the main mast was abraded at the base
and at the cabin top where on downwind runs in heavy weather I believe it
rubbed and twisted against the aluminum collar. Fortunately it was only cosmetic
but I’m sure if I hadn’t noticed it eventually it would have been
structural.
The next season I put spartite at the deck collars (just between
the aluminum collar and the mast, I still use the original synthetic ring
inserts below that) and I added wood and plastic wedges at the base. I
continued to use the original pins (which were bolts ground down where the
stick into the mast).
Although far better when I unstopped there was still some
abrasion at the base.
The next season I had custom completely smooth pins machined
with new holes in the mast base and added about ¼-3/8 inch of fiberglass matt
and epoxy to the inside of the base of the mast.
I also had Garhauer make up collars like you are describing and
on the main clamped it just below the deck and then ran turnbuckles from the
tabs to eye nuts on the bolts going through the bow cleats on each side to
prevent rotation.
This combination of things seems to have completely resolved the
problem.
My mizzen has the spartite and wedges and mast base
reinforcement and pins. I have the collar but have not installed it as the
points to secure it are harder since the bottom is just inside cabinetry that
is not structural. The mizzen doesn’t get the abuse the main does and has
less sail area this seems sufficient without the collar so far.
Surprisingly, despite all the experience Garhauer has with
collars for our masts the first set of mine were very ellipitical and the wrong
dimension and did not fit. They remade them at no charge so it might have just
been a new employee or one of those random mistakes.
Alan F-33 Hull #51 1982 SEAPR
I know there has been some discussion in the
past on mast base
movement. First generation freedoms appeared to use a L bracket, one
hole in mast step base and two in the mast as a mast retention device
and maybe to help prevent mast twisting. Later versions included a thru
bolt with rubber sleeve along a channel in the ‘tophat’ mast step. My
PH39 schooner has the older setup and the foremast twisted quite a bit
in very heavy going to windward recently. Looks like the mast un-
weighted during the up and down motion on the waves enough times to
slowly loosen the bolts and allow quite a bit of mast rotation. I’m
thinking of using a Guarhauer mast collar setup with two 90 degree
tabs welded on to tightly hold the mast to the step and to prevent
twisting. I’m also going to replace the poly wedges with Spartite at
the partners. Any thoughts on all this?