Refitting a Compass 47

[cpa]

Originally Posted by Exile

CPA -- just out of curiosity, was/is your mast through-bolted where it is stepped? I don't think mine is, but I haven't pulled it yet. Is there any reason not to have it through-bolted?

There is a big pin that goes through the mast and the step. My last boat had a pin as well. I'll try to find a picture.

[Stu Jackson]

Nice work.

Was that a snap schackle on a halyard? Not a good idea...

[cpa]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

Nice work.

Was that a snap schackle on a halyard? Not a good idea...

Thanks for the tip. I'll take my chances though.

[sy_gilana]

Another tip. Don't wax Stainless Steel. It must have Oxygen available for it to remain stainless. Acid based cleaners are best for long term life. The wax will look good initially, but then it becomes a PITA.

[Exile]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

Nice work.

Was that a snap schackle on a halyard? Not a good idea...

I have snap shackles for my spinnaker, staysail, & spare halyards, without incident. I suppose you could always wrap them with rigging tape or a wire-tie to be safe. My mainsail & jib/genoa have regular shackles though.

FWIW . . . .

[cpa]

Originally Posted by sy_gilana

Another tip. Don't wax Stainless Steel. It must have Oxygen available for it to remain stainless. Acid based cleaners are best for long term life. The wax will look good initially, but then it becomes a PITA.

I have never had an issue with waxing my stainless. I do it a few times a year and it always looks great. Never any rust. Thanks for the suggestion. I plan on trying spotless stainless for my next round of cleaning. I will leave a section without wax and compare. I love to compare.

[Exile]

Originally Posted by sy_gilana

Another tip. Don't wax Stainless Steel. It must have Oxygen available for it to remain stainless. Acid based cleaners are best for long term life. The wax will look good initially, but then it becomes a PITA.

Sounds like a good tip. The commonly used polishes (e.g. Flitz, etc.) seem to both clean and leave enough of a residue to make the finish last awhile. I've become fond of 'Spotless Stainless' for in b'twn polishing jobs. Never thought something that easy to apply would ever work, but it seems to do the job. Have to wait for a cloudy day, though.

[Exile]

Originally Posted by cpa

There is a big pin that goes through the mast and the step. My last boat had a pin as well. I'll try to find a picture.

A photo would be great if you can swing it. Seems like good insurance for any keel-stepped mast, but maybe there's a good reason why a mfg. would leave it out.

[JPA Cate]

Perhaps Stu Jackson had bad luck with some snap shackles. We use snap shackles on our spinnaker, genoa, and jib halyards, and a positive closure twist type on the main. Have used snap shackles on the main in the past. Never had a problem. But, way back in the days of cheap Taiwan s/s, a friend had such a shackle break, with him hanging from it, and that led to 6 months in hospital and a change in plans--but that's another story.

In our use, never had a problem with them.

Ann

[cpa]

Originally Posted by Exile

A photo would be great if you can swing it. Seems like good insurance for any keel-stepped mast, but maybe there's a good reason why a mfg. would leave it out.

Here's what I have. One picture is me pulling the pin when the mast coming out and the other is me inserting the pin with mast going in. I hope this helps.

[cpa]

Here is the more detailed update:

Got the boat there around 8:30 in the morning. We had a two hour window to get the mast up and sorted. The only thing that held us up was there was a bit of sand in the mast from the yard, we used compressed air to blow it out. We also drilled two limber holes in the front of the mast to match the rear.

[cpa]

More pictures. SSMR here in St. Petersburg was great. Steve, Andrew, and Jen were fantastic as usual. This company is by far the greatest company I have ever had the pleasure doing business with.

[cpa]

I also received some sweet custom spreader boots from Keith at Advanced Sails. He built me the best mainsail I have ever used (for my old S&S 34). The spreader boots look great and rumor has it, hold up better then the rubber ones that are made now.

[cpa]

We still have a little left to do. Monday we are going to do the Spartite, and after that cures I will run the boat over to the shop and:

Tune rig.
Install main halyard and topping lift.
Install windex.
Install boom.

Then we are moving the boat to another marina and starting on the electrical/plumbing projects. (Oh yeah and start sailing )

This weekend I am laying low and visiting the boat only to marvel at the rig.

[Exile]

Originally Posted by cpa

Here's what I have. One picture is me pulling the pin when the mast coming out and the other is me inserting the pin with mast going in. I hope this helps.

Yes, most helpful. Are there cotter pins or something otherwise providing stops on the ends of the pin to prevent it from working itself out? Not an issue under normal circumstances I'm sure, but was thinking more in the event of an (unlikely) knock-down/roll-over.

Also, one of your later yard pics shows what appears to be a vertical slot or opening at the bottom of the mast. Is this where the pin slides through?

I enjoyed your last comment where you mentioned that, along with plumbing & electrical projects, you're going sailing!