Bristol Channel Cutter Elizabeth

Another milestone - mast stepping. I took 2 days to rig the mast, taking my time and making sure it was all done well. Of course I ran into a few issues, like one of my sta-lok eye terminals was actually 7/16″ not 1/2″ which I didn’t notice until I went to put in the pin.  But it’s a simple fix with Sta-lok… you just swap out the eye. No need to cut wire or re-form it. Just add more goop and locktite and snug the new piece down. I used Tef-Gel anywhere and everywhere I could to help isolate the stainless and aluminum. I used Lanocote on the turnbuckles. I wire wheeled, then passivated all the mast hardware I reused. And I seized the stays’l block shackle — that took me happily back to my old schooner days. I was almost ready to whip out the pine tar and start slushing my brand new 1×19 SS rig!

I made a mistake on the mast step base. I should have tightened it down where I wanted it (before dropping the mast in) which was all the way aft, in order to reduce rake. Evidently the boat sails alot better with less rake. But I left the base loose, in order to help out with the rock n’ roll (swell) we were experiencing while lowering the mast into the boat. I only realized this “oopsie” after the gin pole lines had been released from the mast. Well, I asked to have it reconnected and some strain taken on the mast so we could re-align it, and move the step aft. We were only able to get it back half way on the bolt slots… good enough for now. I think however that it’s better this way, since any further back and my stays wouldn’t fit. I built all my rigging off the old rig, using the same dimensions… which ensured I’d have rigging that fit, but didn’t allow me to remove the rake fully. Guess there’s always next time…

The boat got smaller with the mast and boy did the mast get yellower once installed. I think it must be the yellow and green combo… I feel like the flag ship for the Oakland A’s, John Deere or McMaster-Carr — take your pick. My mast color struck up many a conversation around the yard, and was dubbed “Safety Yellow”. I like the Sterling Cloud White top I did, I think it’d be nice in all white - perhaps just the white top makes the mast look squat… I’m not sure. Without sails, its hard to judge, she still looks naked.