How do you fasten heel to step?

[Tom Greaves]

Mast Step & Lifelines (ISAF, Section 3 Mast Step & Lifelines)
Heel of a keel stepped mast shall be securely fastened to the mast step or adjoining structure

What is best practice for this? I'm not sure I've got this covered for my Bristol 35.5.

Thanks in advance and I'm sorry if this has been covered elsewhere.

[Brian Duff]

depends on the boat.
we do this mod alot as its required for the bermuda race from here

many steps have a provision for fasteneing, so tell us your spar brand. I can't call off what is in the bristol 35.5 but it might be metalmast, with the stainless outside shoe step, so you can drill and tap right through it all with maybe 4 1/4"-20 screws

we have made angle brakets, through bolts, screwd em down and even used turnbuckles to eyenuts on keel bolts, get us a photo of the area and someone here can make a plan for you

[billknny]

I gather this is required by some of the racing rules, but under what conditions would it be a benefit?

Seems to me if the mast was far enough out of column to jump out of the step, you would have a lot of other more serious problems. I could likely rig up something that would hold the mast down, but I'm struggling to see the how it would do a better job than the existing rigging above the deck.

[Jim Fulton]

Consider the scenario where the mast breaks at the spreaders. Most of the standing rigging will be useless. At a minimum, having the heel of the mast fastened to the step will keep it from jumping off and punching a hole in the bottom of your boat. It may also make jury-rigging something that will get you home a little easier.

Jim Fulton

[Brian Duff]

of course there could be merit to another system, THE BIG RED BUTTON- lets just say your sailing along on a nice sunny day and WHAM- you get hit by a microburst and your laid over 90*, the hatches are open and shes going down !

hit the red button, all chainplates blow up and the rig flys away in the breeze !

also every boat should have THE BIG RED BUTTON FOR KEEL BOLTS, in case of hull damage at sea or serious grounding. This system combined with closed cell foam bunk cushions should keep your vessel aflot in emergency.


i already have a patent on the idea so don't even think about marketing it !