Mast Drilling

[Stillraining]

Well this was sort of scary...

I mean you really only get one shot at it and it better be right.

As some of you know I had my mast step rebuilt and along with that a SS base plate has been made to accommodate both the positive through bolting of my mast to meet Category 1 offshore rules and also for deck tie rod installation..

Well we just drilled the mast with a 1 1/4" hole saw...We took the base plate and used the two mast winches to suck it up tight...basically self aligning itself by the Derlin donut we cut to the ID of the mast that's now bolted to the new base plate. Then drilled away.

This is the first time I have ever drilled a new hole into a mast..it was a little nerve racking...check, double check, a triple check then a now or never kind of thing.

I'm Pretty confidant it will all line up in the boat..

The pin is 1" SS with an 1/8" Derlin bushing all around isolating the two metals hence the 1 1/4 hole..I think it will work well .......I hope....

I need a beer!