Track to aft edge of foremast...?

[Ian McColgin]

By the way, on Goblin the throat of the fisherman took a very severe strain. Since it landed at a site where there was a compression block inside the mostly hollow mast, that area was reinforced by a couple of feet of through-bolts rather than just screws.

[SV Papillon]

The step on Martha's old foremast was not teak, it's silver bali, I know this because it is my main mast now. There are plenty of suitible teak alternatives to use that are going to be cheeper than starbaord, I would not trust starboard at that long of a run to be stable, you will not be able to glue a scarf in it either or get runs over 14', it also has no compression. If you are on the east coast Gannon and Benjiman can get you silver bali, otherwise I would probaly try sapele which is abundant and affordable. FYI the track blocking is fastened to the bast with #16 bronze screws. As Robert kept the original track when I got the mast I used harken as a replacment.

Jake