[Rhodes22-list] Mast Crutch

[Rob Lowe]

Doug,
While your advice is certainly valid, I just lay my (standard) mast on the
stern rail using a cushion between them and lashing the mast to the rail.
Might not be the best way to do it, but that's how the PO did it.  Also, I
can say from personnel experience that the stern rail can absorb the force
of the mast being dropped on it from a few feet above it.  No damage (either
time) to the mast or the rail.  The mast lowering procedures have been
modified, so hopefully I won't have to test it a third time.

Rob Lowe
S/V Getaway

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gardner, Douglas (LNG-DAY)" <douglas.gardner at lexisnexis.com>
To: "'The Rhodes 22 mail list'" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2004 12:35 PM
Subject: RE: [Rhodes22-list] Mast Crutch


> John,
>
>   Just another note on Roger's response...
>
> Given Roger's expertise and penchant for over-engineering things
(especially
> safety gear), his railings could probably support the weight of the boat.
> Just look how his stern rail is mounted.  There are at least 4 mounting
> points with 4 bolts each for 2 stanchions.  My guess is that they are
> through bolted with stainless backing plates. There is additional diagonal
> bracing supporting the center of the rail. My guess is that if anything in
> that design fails, its going to be the transom. (I mean that as a
> compliment, Roger.)
>
> Depending on where or how you were to load the OEM stern rail with a mast
> crutch, I suspect you'd either bend or crush it.  All of the other mast
> crutches I've seen use either the transom, gudgeons, or both to support
the
> weight of a crutch.  The rail is typically used for stability, as already
> indicated.
>
> I built mine to be supported by the transom, and it is lashed to the stern
> rail for additional support.  I never worry about the transom.  However,
I'm
> always worried about bending the rail when I roll the mast out or roll it
> back in.  In the center, it has a pretty wide unsupported span.  It is
> strong tube, but not strong enough to resist bending when heaviliy loaded
in
> shear.
>
> So, I'd add a word of caution about mounting a mast crutch to your stern
> rail, unless you've built a stern rail like Roger has!
>
> --Doug
> S/V Fretnaught
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
> [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org]On Behalf Of Roger Pihlaja
> Sent: Monday, May 10, 2004 9:51 PM
> To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Mast Crutch
>
>
> John,
>
> The enclosed link will take you to a pretty good picture of the aft mast
> crutch on Dynamic Equilibrium:
>
> http://www.rhodes22.org/rhodes/pics/bimini_room_1.jpg
>
> My mast crutch is homemade & is designed to be installed outside of the
> stern rail with the stern rail supporting the weight.  However, a
perfectly
> servicible mast crutch could be designed to be mounted inside or outside
the
> stern rail with the weight supported on the stern rail or on the transom.
> Build your mast crutch however you want!
>
> Roger Pihlaja
> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <jmh123 at juno.com>
> To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Sent: Monday, May 10, 2004 8:10 PM
> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Mast Crutch
>
>
> > I'd like to build a mast crutch but am not clear on the best way to
> > support the weight of the mast and crutch. A careful examination of a
> > number of pics on the web site appear to show the mast crutch aft (or
> > outside) the stern rail. But I have been unable to determine if the base
> > of the crutch rests on the narrow deck (or combing) at the stern. Or
> > perhaps the stern rail itself is bearing the weight?
> >
> > Can anyone shed some light on this?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > John Hill
> >
> > s/v Clarity
> >
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> >
>
>
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