Mast Splice Location

[CapnVan]

[quote=GlenM;4406]This board has been a great help.
From reading other post on this subject these are the steps I am going to use.


1) Both mast pieces are to be perfectly square with tight fitting seam.
(This sounds like the hardest part)

One method that I have found to work is as follows:
a) Cut the two mast pieces to be "pretty close"
b) Make a pair of short temporary sleeve-plates ( 6 - 8 inches total - 3" - 4" into the mast sections)
c) Drill and tap these short sleeve-plates and machine screw into one mast section
d) Insert the short sleeve-plates into the other mask section
e) Lash/Serve two lines to the "high" side of the splice - one on port the other on starboard
g) Using the winches on the base of the mast (if present), blocks and tackle, come-alongs, etc. tighten these two lines, thus drawing the splice together.
h) Align the two mast sections by sighting down the sail track, and the cheeks, and adjusting until they're perfectly straight.
i) Drill and tap two more machine screws per side onto the opposite side of the splice from step "c"
i) Take a carbide bladed circular saw, adjust the depth of cut to just over the wall thickness of the mast sections.
j) Over-cut the "pretty close" seam. The two mast sections should now match perfectly.
(NOTE: WEAR EYE PROTECTION, GLOVES, LONG SLEEVES, AND BUTTON YOUR SHIRT UP ALL THE WAY DURING THIS STEP !!!)
k) Remove the short temporary sleeve-plates, and proceed with installation of the permanent sleeve/sleeve-plates/etc, using the existing holes (from the temporary plates) as the first set of holes.

I like to re-use my Lashed/Served lines to snug-up the sections on the permanent plates, too.