Hello,
This is a follow up to my question about mast bolts that I posted a few months ago. I had a question about 4 bolts situated just above the mast collar different from the 4 bolts that hold the mast in the collar. As someone had suggested I had the mast unstepped to check some things out and it turns out the 4 bolts in question secure a very heavy aluminium base to the mast which then fits intp the mast collar on the hull. Photo attached.
The above photos show the unstepped mast with the bolts in question. Photo two is inside the mast showing the bolt ends securing the heavy aluminum insert.
In the second set of photos you can see the mast bolts that secure the mast into the collar and the bolts above the collar that I questioned. The photo with the red arrow raised a question of corrosion which fortunately turned out to be debris.
I post this to inform anyone who might have a similar mast and like me didnt know what the additional bolts were for.
John Waldhausen
Northern Star
N36
Bainbridge Island, WA
For future reference and nomenclature that is consistent with the manual: the mast collar is at the deck level. The aluminium cast glassed to the hull is referred to as the mast step and the casting bolted to the bottom of the mast is called the heel. I hope I don’t sound critical or pompous, neither are my intentions. If I come across that way please accept my apologies. If we all use the terms from the manuals it makes it easier for us to help each other. Mark
Thank you to John Waldhausen and to John Jwaldh for all that info. Let me add a two-bit of caution to anybody who may not have had the experience of removing a Nonsuch mast. After loosening or removing all bolts at the mast step, do not forget to remove the small pin which links (metal rod) the aft lower portion of the mast to the mast step.
