Dart 15 Forums

Hi

First sail of the season and won the shake down persuit race....good stuff.

I have fitted a new mast ball on the front beam over the winter as the original 21 year old was badly worn on the front and top. On putting the boat away I noticed a bit of grating on moving the mast round and am thinking the rivets holding the new mast heel plate added last season are catching on the raised steel pin sticking out of the top of the ball. This didn't happen on the old one as the pin was worn away. I can also move the mast on the ball a couple of ml forward and back.

I have ordered a new heel plate and wonder if I should stick it into position using something like chemical metal (or anything else suggested), so there is nothing to grate on.
Is a small bit of movement on the plate normal when a new mast ball is fitted.

Any feedback welcome

Thanks

Kevin
Sprint 15 1615

Kevin.

I've had two mast balls/feet replaced on two different boats by Steve Sawford. Both ball and foot were sourced from Brian @ Windsport, so I suggest you check with either Steve or Brian..

Hi Kevin,

One of the problems with worn ball and heel plate is the ball wears away the inside of the mast bottom casting, especially if the boat is parked with the mast up for long periods in the same orientation to the prevailing winds. That allows more sideways movement of the mast even with a new ball.

With a new casting and ball there is 2-3mm of sideways movement of the mast on the ball. I put 40mm circular plates in our masts when I replaced the ball and casting on my wife's boat and the plate on mine. They were glued in with araldite. I did not use araldite rapid so had to make up a wooden spacer to use the mast pin to apply pressure to the plate while the adhesive dried ( I also stood the mast up upside down and tied it to a tree for 24 hours !!!!!!!). I am not sure if you will get away glueing in the smaller rectangular plates though.

Steve

Hi Steve

Ive removed the old heel plate and replaced with new, sticking it on with chemical metal, had a good blast around Llandudno bay with no problems.

Kevin

1615

Don't leave your boat in the boat park without the mast pin in to stop it moving while you're going about daily life..