Hello to all,
I'm a proud new owner living on the Chesapeake Bay & working in D.C. I bought the boat new from Mike Inmon out in California, and I just completed the christening sail this weekend at Kent Narrows. I had a question about the mast mount bolts with the self-locking nuts. Has anyone replaced them with clevis pins, for ease of rigging? On my practice mast raising, I tightened down the nut too much on the mast mount, & wound up stripping it when I had to back it off the bolt. Was able to replace the bolt, but seems like it would be easier taking the mast & mast raiser with an identical sized clevis pin.
!
kmclemore:
Changed title to make it easier in future subject searches.
I have the "quick rig" from BWYs. I haven't actually used any of the hardware as I like the bolts and nuts, but it does have a quick release pin as you describe.
I've replaced the bolt / nut system with clevis / cotter pins, for both the mast & the mast raising system. Also use them for securing the mast at the bow rail & mast crutch. Eliminates having to carry tools for rigging & unrigging.
Like K9campers I have replaced the bolts for the mast and mast raising system with clevis pins. As well as the supports for the the rudders and the connection for the boom to the mast and any other connections. No need to carry a wrench when my fingers can do the job, makes launching and pulling the boat out that much easier.
I've gone back to bolts and lock nuts for the mast step, bow rail carrier, and mast crutch. I've found a hand tight twist on a nylok nut won't get loose, and is easier and faster than ring dings
Catigale wrote:I've gone back to bolts and lock nuts for the mast step, bow rail carrier, and mast crutch. I've found a hand tight twist on a nylok nut won't get loose, and is easier and faster than ring dings
Ymmv
I agree on that, a lock nut is also easier to handle than a ring ding IMHO.
Claes
Catigale wrote:I've gone back to bolts and lock nuts for the mast step, bow rail carrier, and mast crutch. I've found a hand tight twist on a nylok nut won't get loose, and is easier and faster than ring dings
Ymmv
I agree on that, a lock nut is also easier to handle than a ring ding IMHO.
Claes
I agree, also.
Welcome aboard from Sweden, Claes. Don't be a stranger.
I found a longer bolt with threads only on the last inch or so. Cut off the threads then drilled a hole in the end and use a cotter pin. Work great. Easier than the bolt/nut I had before. Did the same for my mast raising pole.
I definitely agree on the ring-dings...biggest PITA I have ever encountered. I have a very hard time getting the small ones on the stay adjusters on/off. Always end up ripping a fingernail or two, getting my blood pressure up to un-healthy levels, and repeating Scottish curses that I learned from Bastonjock the one time I was with him and he tried to fly his spinnaker...but that is a story for a different day...
Thanks for all the comments. I found 3/8 x 4 1/2 in clevis pins on the Fastenal site. I'm going to give it a shot w/ cotter pins and keep the bolts as backup. Appreciate the welcome. Looking forward to participating in some future Mac events.
Congrats on the new Mac. I sail out of the South River which is across the bay from you. I here Crab Alley Bay is a great place to sail and anchor. I hope to make it over there soon. I use the bolot and nut method. I never had an issue with the nut hand tight.
The killer product would be a ground pin with the pivoting stop, like what you find on trailer pins, that slides sideways but stays attached to the pin so it cant get lost.
Just out of curiosity has anyone ever noticed that there mast bolt has slipped at all? I have never seen any slippage. I could probably not even use a cotter pin and it wouldn't matter...but I won't.
c130king wrote:Just out of curiosity has anyone ever noticed that there mast bolt has slipped at all? I have never seen any slippage. I could probably not even use a cotter pin and it wouldn't matter...but I won't.
I wouldn't doubt your statement. But then again, I don't know how I would notice it moving unless I removed the nut. I have witnessed the forestay pin moving.
Also, I was stupid once and forgot to wire the shackle on my anchor. After towing a distance and launching it was time to anchor. As I was lowering the anchor I noticed the shackle missing. The pin vibrated right out. It's wired tight now, but it goes to show that pins can vibrate out easily.
My mast bolt sticks out about 1 inch and thus the cotter pin is not right up against the mast foot thus it could slip about an inch if it was to slip...but it never has. Too much tension on it me-thinks. Same for my forestay pin...never noticed any slipping and it sticks out at least an inch. And yes I have the simple kind of pin with the flip end...no nut...no cotter...no ring ding...no worries.
owner living on the Chesapeake Bay & working in D.C. I bought the boat new from Mike Inmon out in California, and I just completed the christening sail this weekend at Kent Narrows. I had a question about the mast mount bolts with the self-locking nuts. Has anyone replaced them with clevis pins, for ease of rigging? On my practice mast raising, I tightened down the nut too much on the mast mount, & wound up stripping it when I had to back it off the bolt. Was able to replace the bolt, but seems like it would be easier taking the mast & mast raiser with an identical sized clevis pin.
Looking forward to participating in some future Mac events. 