Hi all. Just purchased a 2001 N20. Had a question regarding a partially broken mast base casting. I don't have a picture at the moment but the damage is to one side of the casting. Essentially, one of the holes where the clevis pin goes through has broken off. One hole still remains. Is there any danger during sailing in regards to the mast getting knocked off if (when) I capsize or perhaps in strong gusts or maybe another condition?

I was able to step the mast down with no problem for winterizing this past weekend. It seems (from online research) that the two holes for the clevis pin are purely to aid in stepping the mast. But it would be nice to get some ideas from people more experienced.

Also, how involved is the replacement process for a N20 mast base casting if I decide to undertake that. Is it something that can be done by me or should I hire someone to look into it? I don't really have a lot of experience in boat repair.

If it's just the hole that the pin goes in, I don't think there should be an issue. It is not recommended that you sail with that pin in place, anyway. If the mast falls down while sailing (for some strange reason like a parted shroud or something), you don't want that pin causing more damage.

Under normal (and some not-normal) sailing conditions, the shrouds and forestay keep the mast in place if they are tensioned properly. Even after you flip, there is sufficient tension to keep that mast situated properly on the mast ball. I've never seen it come off unless something catastrophic happened first (shroud pin breaking, damage to main beam, etc)

If you're comfortable raising and lowering the mast without the pin (not recommended, but possible) I see no need to spend a lot of time worrying about it. The pin is supposed to keep the mast from slipping off that ball while you're raising/lowing it.

while you're on the topic, couple of things to check each time you're going to sail:

- all pins checked, secured with ringding and preferably taped in place. This includes shroud, forestay, bridle wire, and spin bridle pins)

- shackle at mast hounds (where shrouds and forestay meet at top of mast) is properly fastned so it won't unscrew and part while sailing (yes, it's happened)

- check the hounds where all the wires meet - sometimes that hole stretches out and develops a crack which might eventually fail

- shroud chainplates need inspection to see if they might let go. I don't know of any that have (for something other than the pin falling out)

Mine is broken

Just take extra care while lowering and raising the mast.

It was broken when someone used a screwdriver as a pin and it got caught in the crossbar slot while lowering the mast.

Don't ask me how I know.

John,

This past Saturday I looked at your mast bast. I think you will be fine sailing with it the way it is.

If you do decide to replace it, I don't think its a big deal. I replaced one on a 6.0 mast and it wasn't a difficult.

Heads-up, our fleet hold a party we call the Annapolis Invasion. Final details are being worked out. It will be a short notice announcment, since with our bunch that seems to works best.

The original mast bases on Nacras did not have the tabs for a stepping pin, they just had shallow sockets. To raise or lower the mast without a stepping pin, push the mast hard over to one side and keep a lot of downward pressure on the mast ball by using the tension from one shroud. No problem sailing without the pin. As another writer mentioned, it is best to remove the pin once the mast is up. Replacing a mast base is pretty easy. The base design has changed somewhat.

Speaking of mast bases, what's the "new" design for the N-20 mast base? I've heard of it, but haven't seen a pic of it.

It has a mount for the rotator arm.

Hobie-20 style rotation limiter? Anybody going to this set up? I'm looking at pulling the mast base off and cleaning some things up, was wondering if it was worth going to the new style at that point.

If you are pulling the mast base off anyway you might as well go with the new style rotation system.

I had one with a broken pin hole like yours. I stepped it that way for a couple of years before I finally sold it. I always tied a safety line to the dolphin striker and I had someone pull the mast base toward the ball as I stepped the mast.

Or just replace it. Anybody know if it's glued in or not? If it's glued in you might have a problem replacing it easily.

Mike Hill
N20 #1005

Actually mine's not broken, just some corrosion around the join, popping it off and cleaning it up seems like a good thing to do. Didn't know if anybody was actually using the new system and whether they liked it for this boat. Tying the limiter to the boom makes it somewhat self-tending, but the mast base system would be simpler and takes some crap off the boom.