Mast heel casting

[Kevin Parvin]

I probably know the answer to this query but thought I would share it. When the mast is dropped and lies across the back of the boat it has become increasingly difficult to remove the pin at the base (a second person has to lift the mast a foot or so off the track to make pin removal easy). I replaced the ball casting a couple of years ago and though the steel plate at the top of this casting remains good there's been quite a bit of wear at the back of the ball casting.
Looking at the heel casting today it is quite badly worn on one side, probably due to the prevailing wind direction. So my questions are:

Do I need to replace the heel casting (original 1991 fitting)? (probably yes).
Could a badly worn heel plate be responsible for difficult removal of the mast pin?
Can I get away with the ball casting for another couple of years, I've been told in the past that as long as the steel top is not worn it should be ok?

I've always replaced the plate in the heel casting regularly.
Kevin 1615

[Brian Phipps]

Hi, Windsport would suggest that if the heel casting is worn on one wall side more than the other the casting should be replaced.
The problem may go back of many years of use, ie once the mast heel has worn off centre replacing the mast heel plate will not rectify the problem. The mast heel and the mast ball normally wear together so if for a variety of reasons the wear is on one side it normally effects both castings . When you replace one and not the other it is possible the wear will work back towards the warn part.
As a note the mast heel plates now supplied is thicker to increase durability.

Hope that all helps
Brian
SP15 technical support.

[Kevin Parvin]

Thanks Brian, that's quite interesting as this season I've noticed I can move the base of the mast a couple of millimetres forward and back on the ball (when the mast is raised). I replaced the heel plate this but it made no difference. There's also been more metallic sludge ground away from the heel casting and deposited on the ball. I think the ball casting should be ok, any wear is at the back facing the stern, the top and sides are ok.
I think a new heel casting will go on my Xmas list to Santa.

Thanks
Kevin