Mast Rotation: Do You Pin It For Trailering?

[jimbo]

why cut 'em?

I replaced the spreader retaining bolts with quick release thingies and now before I push the mast from the lowered position to the travelling position I remove the spreaders and bungie the now considerably shorter spreaders in overlap fashion below the mast and bungie the upper section of the shrouds to the mast then roll the mast back. Very quick and easy. Side benefit is that a) no extraneous wire to get caught when rollin the mast back and b) with the mast in travel position, there is clear access to the cabin without having to duck under the upper shrouds.

I have removed / disconnected the safety wires but ended up part breaking them at the middle stanchion when I wrapped them too tight to the stanchion hence the above. Have to replace the suckers now

oh and now I do not pin the mast. It can lie on it's side due to the genoa strapped to it but as the spreaders are no longer hitting the deck I do not care. I bungie the spreaders to the safety wires so they are horizontal now matter what the mast orientation is as they are not longer attached to the mast.

[stuendan]

Hey Jimbo - disconnecting the spreaders at the mast makes a lot of sense - once you have done that you wouldn't need to drop the lifelines would you? What are the quick release thingies you used to replace the spreader bolts? I don't have my boat at hand (at mast up storage on Gippsland Lakes) - but is it possible to modify the spreader/mast attachment to allow the spreader arm to be rotated in situ so that they angle up rather than down or at least horizontal so that they clear the stantions. Cheers all

[jimbo]

Correct with spreaders removed no interference with lifelines. Other benefits as stated in far easier access to cabin. The bolts look like normal bolt with no thread but a toggle at one end and a spring to hold the toggle at ninety degrees thus looked hn installed. Too far from boat to photograph. Will try to find n,me and update post.

[Tomfoolery]

I use PTO pins to hold the spreaders. Just plated steel from the BORG. When these eventually rust out (second season on them now), which will take a while as I'm in fresh water, I'll use stainless ones.

http://www.wilsonmfgco.com/hitchpins/wirelockpins.htm

[jimbo]

I used this or similar

https://whitworths.com.au/main_itemdeta ... lutePage=1

But had to use a washer to stop the spring entering the hole.

The PTO pins look to be a better solution.

[Boblee]

Haven't read this through but by putting a support up from the mast fixing point under the mast when trailering should alleviate any movement sideways and hence the most tendency to lay sideways.
We do it partly because all hardware including sails is transported on the mast when travelling but the crutch is in place even when it is stripped, also our mast carry points are raised both fore and aft so removing spreaders is not needed as they sit above the lifelines.