BoatBanter.com - Weekender query

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"Terry Spragg" wrote in message
...
Darwin wrote:

My 12yo nephew is building a Weekender, described as a "23' gaff sloop
with a folding mast." His query: "How do you make the mast joint
strong enough so that when you hoist the sail you mast doesn't snap at
the joint?" Please advise.

Duh, hinged at the deck level, in a 'tabernacle hinge?'

The mast won't be as long as the boat, with a gaff or half yard
that slides up the mast, pulled up by a haulyard (halyard) rope
to stretch out the head of the sail. When the gaff is lowered,
the mast may hinge at the deck level and lie down, for low
bridges. Guy wires called shrouds may hold the masthead centered,
and probably raked a little aft, and a fore stay (used to support
the jib or fore sail, pulled up with a jib halyard, even though
there is no jib yard,) will stop it from falling backwards.
After stays may stop it from falling forewards, but tension on
the sail will probably do that job.

If the mast uses no shrouds, it will have a mast step or socket
in the bottom of the boat, and partner pieces at the deck bracing
to hold it up. It may have the ability to remove a piece or
chock partner, and fold down to the rear after releasing the
forestay. Such arrangement might be called a 'hinged mast' though
there be no hinge as such. Such an unstayed mast would not likely
have a hinge in the middle, but might be made of telescoping
aluminium tubes for ease of storage and light weight.

The point where the gaff meets the mast near the top may be
described as a 'hinge' (I do not know a 'correct' term, offhand)
enabling the gaff to be pulled up almost straight overhead,
depending on the sail shape. It is intended to swing around a bit
on a zig zag halyard, which relieves the head of the sail,
spilling wind or 'luffing', reducing heeling and weather helm in
gusts or strong winds.

The sail is generally stretched tighter by pulling down at the
gooseneck, where the boom meets the mast and the tack of the sail
is secured. In gaff headed rigs, you can pull the halyard tighter
to raise the gaff tip, stretching the leech of the sail. A
fatter, baggier sail shape is better for reaching and running.

Masts are designed to flex a bit, affecting sail camber depth and
airfoil shape.

Small ropes (reefing points) hanging out either side of the sail
in a line near the bottom will enable you to make the sail
smaller for strong winds by bundling and tieing the foot of the
sail to the boom. Some sails have as many as three rows of
reefing points. It's like having four different sized main sails,
for different strength winds. Reefing a main sail or removing a
jib sail altogether is called 'shortening sail,' for safety in
strong winds.

Always reef way too early. You will go slower, but you won't
upset as easily, or be as likely to break a mast. You don't want
to try reefing for the first time after the wind gets too strong.
Practice in light airs.

Boats come in remarkable variety, as if sailors' 'improvements'
were not various enough.

Please excuse the louts.

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