Deck Stepped Mast

mman30 · #1 (**permalink**) 09-14-2008

Hi all, Warning, a dumb ass move just took place, take pitty,

I have a 1973 Grampian 30 with a deck stepped mast, I keep the boat on the west river in Galesville, MD. To make a long story short, in the process of trying to paint the deck, and re-bed all deck plating, I was taking the upper and lower shrouds and attaching to the toe rail temporarily while removing the deck plate. Not thinking, I went ahead and did the three starboard side shrouds first (leaving a good three inches of slack, dumb) and went to the port side. As I was taking the port sides, I felt the boat start to heel on the port side, and the mast started to come over to port about 10 degrees, plus the heeling action. Needless to say, the mast did not fall, i had time to pull the boom over to the dock, use a pulley system with the boom to raise the mast, attach all shrouds, and all seems well, no nicks or scratches on the mast base. My question is, did i do any internal damage to the mast. There is a tensioning rod under the deck stepping base, but I am not familiar with the whole deck stepped mast set-up. There is no pin, attaching the mast to the base, but one never knows.

Freesail99 · #2 (**permalink**) 09-14-2008

I would closely inspect your hull-deck joints to see if you opened anything up.

dgmace · #3 (**permalink**) 09-14-2008

It doesn't sound to me that you caused any damaged!
Just use common sense and get back sailing

Dana
Marblehead Ma

sailingdog · #4 (**permalink**) 09-14-2008

How is the toerail attached to the deck. Did it end up taking all the strain of the leaning mast?? If so, FS's suggestion of checking the toerail/hull-deck join very carefully is a good one.

Also check the mast step to see if it moved and possibly damaged the laminate underneath it.

mman30 · #5 (**permalink**) 09-14-2008

Thanks for the input, the toe rail is through bolted and fine, the deck looks fine above and below the base plate were the mast is stepped. I think all is well, maybe just a bruised ego, for pulling such a bone head move.

Freesail99 · #6 (**permalink**) 09-14-2008

good luck and fair winds.

sailingdog · #7 (**permalink**) 09-14-2008

Next time... use a halyard to secure the side that you're removing the shrouds on.