tabernacle

[buddhadawg]

good day to all, we are looking at a 40' boat with a tabernacle on the mast. this would be helpful in moving the boat from its current location, however, our goal is to cruise the gulf and Caribbean. I wonder if over time this could cause problems with structural integrity and overall stability. if yall can please give me some feedback, It would be greatly appreciated.. thanks bill

[Sailmonkey]

Built right it will present no problems.

If it was assembled as a hack job by amateurs it may cause problems.

[barnakiel]

Look in the Netherlands.


b.

[Sparx]

Tabernacles are a positive feature when done correctly. Some things to look for in a well done tabernacle:

The cheeks on either side of the mast should be just far enough apart that the mast slips between the cheeks. The mast should not move side to sided between the cheeks.

The pin running through the mast should be stout, and the mast reinforced around the hole the pin passes through. I prefer a pin that can be tightened to force the bearing sides of the tabernacle firm against the mast. In a hollow mast look for a transverse sleeve spanning the run of the pin inside the mast that takes the compression load of the pin.

The pin in the tabernacle should not bear the downward compression load of the mast. There should be a shim system under the foot of the mast that the mast bears firmly on. The shim is removed to allow the mast to fold down on the tabernacle, but when sailing the shim system bears the load of the mast and rigging.

The tabernacle cheeks need to be constructed of thick stiff material, and firmly connected together with a similar strong material that spans the gap between the cheeks below the mast. The two cheeks and the material between the cheeks together make a beam structure. This beam structure should run deep into the hull, and be connected firmly to the keelson.

Your surveyor will need to look closely for cracks or other weaknesses in the tabernacle. Also have the surveyor confirm the cheeks are solidly connected to the material spanning between them below the mast; there can be no movement between these pieces.