25d mast base plate holes?

[frankfurder]

I am having my mast rewired and the hinged plate at the base has the 4 mounting holes you would expect to bolt to the post in the cabin, but there are two additional holes centered in the base plate. there were machine screws in the two extra holes, the rigger thinks they were there to run wiring thru the base plate before the wiring exited the base of the mast, my question is; do these holes and whatever they screwed into provide some other important function? Don't think so, but thought I would ask. Thanks!

While the mast is down I am mounting a dwyer halyard organizer plate to run main and reefing lines back to the cockpit, hopefully for less stressful reefing. I know it is simpler at the mast, with less friction, but singlehanding I would like to raise/lower/reef from the cockpit. One note on the dwyer plate and original hinged mast step, installation of the plate precludes inserting and removing the 2 pins that hold the mast base in place, so rigger is making modifications.

[barfwinkle]

GA Frank

I have the Dwyer hinge at the mast base on Rhapsody and there are only 4 screws. I haven't had the mast down in two years, but I have no clue what the other screws are for. Just FYI Rhapsody was a stock boat and the wiring exited the mast 5 or 6 inches above the base and then down into the cabin through a hole just forward of the base plate. I drilled out the original hole to allow more room for the wiring. As I recall there is nothing (other than possibly the deck) else for the extra screws to screw into.

I had the organizer but decided against installing it. I'm sure you've considered it, but remember you are adding 3/4"-1" height to our mast so your rigging length may need to be adjusted either via extensions or in my case when I ordered new rigging I had the length adjusted to allow for the hinge.

Fair Winds

[frankfurder]

Thanks Barfwinkle, if you are down in the Grapevine/Fort Worth area this holiday season, give me a ring and we can enjoy a winter sail on Lake Grapevine! 817*480*4485 or fcrumb!@aol.com