Posted by: wayne matheson on March 30, 2005 at 14:53:07:
In Reply to: Re: Mast step question posted by ken smith on March 30, 2005 at 11:35:39:
Thanks for the input . Great to hear about rigging techniques for quick adjustment and other approches to this piece of equipement. the very fact that there are so many styles of mast steps makes me think that the" ideal" set up has yet to be invented . What I am considering now is putting 1/4" riser under 1/8" alu. plate aprox.2 1/4" X 7". The plate would be slotted oc,5/16" X6"long with an aprox.1/2" X1/2" hole at one end. . The riser would be slotted 1/2" X aprox. 6 1/2" the plate and riser would be screwed to the deck with 6 screws.the mast step with aprox.1/8 X2"base (sarns style) would have two 5/16" holes for and aft to accomadate 5/16" X 3/8 " bolts . Two bronze nuts 1/2" X 3/4"X1/4" would be inserted into the slot under the1/8 alu. plate .The 2 bolts from the mast step would be screwed into the nuts and when tightened would clamp the mast step in position .I have pieces of polyprop. that I hope to use for the 1/4 riser .It is strong light and easy to machine .This system would require loosening and tightening two nuts ( I don't think one nut would have enough holding power)but it may be adjustable with the mast up and it would give infinite adjustment within its range .If any one sees any fatal flaws or possible infringements on the rules I would love to hear about ,My first concern was to come up with a simple to build and inexpensive unit.Strong and light would also be nice. The fact that this system may be adjustable was just a lucky coincedence ,As I said before I got the idea from a sailboard(better to steal the method for building the wheel from someone else than reinventing the wheel yourself). Thanks again. Wayne p.S does any one have a handle on the load range of the average mast step in the fore and aft axis and a down and dirty way to test the holding power of the two clamping nuts