Adding Spinnaker Bail

[John Martin]

I want to install a spinn bail at the top of Carina's mast head. This will require me to go up in a bosun chair, and work at, and above, the mast head. I know I will have to drill and tap four, 1/4" 20 holes. These holes must be drilled into the top of the existing cast aluminum mast head fitting. This is a fairly simple project if the mast is horizontal.

1) Has anyone ever installed a spinn bail on top of the mast head while working from a bosun seat?

The spinn bail part is available from Rig Rite, part number SP-083-1. I know when you mention 'Rig Rite' it is like finger nails being scrapped on a black board.

2) Does anyone have another source for a spinn bail that will fit a CD31? Do I need to go to a machine shop, and get this part designed and built, locally?

Any thoughts or concerns would be appreciated.

[bottomscraper]

Can't help with the first question.

For our CD36 we got our bail from Lefiell. On our masthead there were no predrilled holes, the mast was down when I did ours. If I remember correctly I used 1/4-20 fasteners.

http://www.lefiell.com/masthead_assemb.html

Svendsens also lists them and may be the same as the above:
http://www.svendsens.com/metalworks/pro ... dware.html

[barfwinkle]

John try Dwyer mast (google it). Great friendly service.

Fair winds.

[Steve Laume]

I forget where I got my crane but it was the one with 4 pre drilled holes and took 1/4" bolts tapped into the mast head. I installed it, with the mast on the ground and it was very easy.

I do have a bit of advice as far as working the mast head in a bosuns chair. It is very hard to get high enough. Maybe not for messing with stuff that is already there but getting high and stable enough to drill and tap those holes will be difficult.

You could do yourself a huge favor by picking up a pair of hinged mast steps. They take the same 1/4" fasteners so you will have everything you need on the way up. Stand on the ground and measure a comfortable working height and set them that far below the mast head. Once they are in place, crank yourself up as high as you can go in the chair. Fold down the steps. Tie a safety loop around the mast above the steps and clip or tie in. Now you can step right up with the chair just hanging and reach whatever you need to do in retaliative ease and much more comfort. You just stand there and lean back into a strap.

You will never regret having them if you ever have to work at the top again.

Make sure to have a line and bucket for whatever you are sure to forget. (Maybe that's just me.)

I didn't have them when you and Leo hauled me up the mast, Steve.

[kerlandsen]

I did exactly what you describe. The fitting was expensive, but i was confident it would work.
I have a rope ladder with 2x3 ladder rungs that I hoist on the main halyard. I can stand on the top step and get high enough. I also use a prussic knot as a back up on another halyard. ONce at the top I string a webbing loop around the very top of the mast and clip into that. Another around the mast in a choker as a backup. I can use my legs to stand up and get high enough, but then fall back down if I need to rest.

I had a canvas bag with me with tools in it. The job was fairly simple. I did use that special stuff for protecting the sst screws in the aluminum mast. I recall difficulty getting everything straight and pretty, but it does the job. Certainly glad to have the bail up there. My rig is fractional with the genoa, but full hoist with the Asym kite.

Kyle E.
SS28
Emma L.
Ex CD TyS owner (did the same thing to this boat, but on the level)

[John Martin]

This has been a very busy morning. Yesterday, I faxed to Rig Rite, a request for cost of masthead bail. They called back early this morning. For part and shipping they want $101.

To Rich,
This morning, I contacted both Lefiell and Sevendsens, still waiting for detailed information, but so far Lefiell has my part for about $30 puls shipping. Still wait for both of them to fax drawings.

To Bill,
I had forgotten about Dwyer. I have ordered, in the past, a halyard organizer for KnoTy Boy. Dwyer is a good company.

To Steve,
I did exactly what you suggest. When we brought Carina to LL, I launched the boat, but left the mast in the boat yard, on saw-horses. We spent about two weeks doing mast improvement projects. One of the things I did was to add two fold-out-steps near the top of the mast, about 4' down from the top. Now, I can easily, work at/above the top of the mast. I wrote an article for our local sailing club newsletter about (horizontal) mast improvement projects. Adding mast-steps was one of the projects. My steps are thru bolted, not tapped.

To Kyle,
I'm glad to know you have already done this. It has always seemed to me to be a do-able project. Just a little nervous about pulling the trigger.

I am always impressed with the amount of knowledge that comes from the web site.

Thanks everyone, John