New mast in old boat and what to do about the partners

[allene]

As some know, my Lapworth-36 Papoose was dismasted this spring. I am still waiting for the new aluminum mast (keel stepped). I have made measurements on the boat and find the following. I am using the upper chainplate-deck intersection as the reference. The center of the mast step is 7/16 off center to starboard. The opening in the cabin top where the partners and mast collar are is 1 inch off center also to starboard. (Yes it really is. Easy to see just by looking at the boat.) The opening is rectangular in shape. The old mast came up from the mast step and excited through the center of the partners and then went straight up so it was 1 inch to starboard at the top. In other words, it had a little dog leg in it, just 1/2 inch. Clearly not OK with the new mast.

What I am considering is keeping the bottom of the mast centered on the mast step and centering the top between the chainplates. This will mean the mast is not straight but rather tilting 0.05 degrees (approximately nothing). The mast would clear the existing collar by 0.4 inches on the port side. I considered just leaving everything like this and using Spartight. That was vetoed by my shipwright. He wants to route out the cabin top and fill in the opening and make it fit the new mast, which is more oval than rectangular.

I contacted Garhauer about making a new collar and the discussion ended with the possibility of making a new collar and deck plate that is large enough to cover the existing opening with a 1/4 inch steel, The collar would be 2 inches high about 1/2 inch spaced from the mast. This would be bolted to the cabin top so that filling in the existing hole would not be necessary. The cabin top is 6 layers of 1/4 inch plywood.

The other alternative is to do what my shipwright suggested plus make a new mast collar. This would allow the wedges to act directly against the cabin top as well as the collar.

I kind of like the idea of the new heavy plate and collar with the larger opening in the cabin top so that things could be adjusted after the new mast was set in case my measurements are off. But I am not sure it is OK to have the load to to the collar, through the base, and then to the bolts in the cabin top rather than directly to the cabin top.

Looking for some advice.

PS. I had a protest hearing and the boat that hit me was found to have broken rules 11, 12, and 14. I broke no rule. I settled with their insurance company and got what I wanted. Less than what it would take for a wood mast, but I didn't want a wood mast as the boat I race against has done well with his aluminum rig.



Allen
L-36.com