Types of Riggings

[willysail]

I was wondering if anyone could explain the advantages of a keel mounted mast vs. step mast mounting and witch is better

[Zanshin]

Both methods of stepping a mast have advantages and disadvantages. A deck-stepped mast is easier to mount as it is shorter, there is no big hole in the deck for water to seep into and it can't rip an even bigger hole if the rig ever breaks and goes overboard.

Keel-stepped masts use the extra attachment point at the deck to their advantage and can thus be built lighter and smaller than a similarly tall and strong deck-stepped mast.

[Faster]

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/buying...ped-masts.html

Old article from the archives that should help.