I have seen many people using line instead of a mast step pin.

I know at times I struggle getting my pin in or out, but would be worried about using line. I have always thought that line could be sheared and cause the mast to fall.

I was wondering if anyone had any input or disaster stories about this.

Would that be on the TheMightyHobie18 that looks pictured on your post?

I've never used a 'line',
however, with my old N6.0, I often never used a step pin either.

I used a screw driver on my TheMightyHobie18 without problem (except when it rusted through and broke).

I dont own that boat anymore. I now have a mystere 5.5 and since it utilizes the tunnbuckle system it is alot more difficult pulling out a pin after its tightened (or putting in to step it down). I try not to tighten the forstay all the way before removing the pin, but with all my new spin hardware, if i am solo-rigging, this gets tricky.

I have seen the line method used on G-cats, Darts, and others....

If you didnt use a step pin in your N6... what did you use? or did you just put enough forward/downward pressur to keep the mast in place?

I"m sure you've seen the step on a N6.0, similar to other cats made by Performance.

The mast base really closes around the step ball well, it's a complete ball. A little forward pressure on the baase is all it needed. My old P18-2 only had a half of a ball stock, and a thinner screwdriver always worked good there.

I use a screw driver for my 18-2. It fits snuggly in the mast step holes and gives me a nice handle for pulling it out. Much quicker and more secure than the pin that was half the diameter of the holes and barely long enough to stay put while raising or lowering the mast.

I tie a line just as a safety measure. The step ball came off on me once, and I dropped the mast. Not very high thankfully.

You tie a line from what, to what?

Mast rotator to the dolphin striker. Just something to hold it should the ball decide to part ways again. Like Todd Bouton said forward pressure is all that is really needed.

I always used a pin on the Dart 18, but a line made of old spectra on the Hawk and Spitfire. The line goes through the same holes as the pin and ties off with a reef knot.

Oh, I got ya. I used to tie a saftey line in a similar way when i first got this boat and was very unsure about putting the boat on backwards so i would step down the mast over my car.

I had recently stopped doing that but perhaps i will start again. It sure seems simple enough and could "save the day".

I did have a mast step hinge break on me one time when i was taking my hobie mast down. that wasnt fun (esp for my gf who was in the back of the trailer ready to "catch".

Now I know of two boats that the ball came off during stepping, yours, and the Kreugers' Tiger. Never seen that happen with a 20. Wonder if someone used a H20 ball and your boat? That's what Dan and I suspected on his Tiger. And why would this happen on a boat so (relatively) new? Anyone else have the ball pop off on their Tiger?

I think the ball wasn't bottomed out all the way. Unscrewed it self a bit from mast rotation? The ball should be tightened all the way down so the threads aren't carrying any weight. I don't think the threads can handle the pressure from the mast pushing down when loaded. Mine just stripped out. New ball and a little epoxy, shouldn't be a problem again.

On the FXone/Tiger there is a pin that you are supposed to put through the bottom of the mast cup that keeps the ball captive. If you're like me and don't pay attention to which way you rotate the mast comeing down you can't get the pin out. Pain in the butt, tieing off a line is much easier I think.

I think Hobie Cat USA is making their own balls now. I had read on a thread somewhere that this has happened before with the HCE balls. BALLS.

I've had the ball pop off on my Tiger (MWE 2 years ago). Ball went 25 feet in the air while the back end of the mast "boing-ed" off the ground. No damage, other than pride.

There was a bad batch of balls that came out of Hobie Europe. Hobie USA is making their own balls now.

There a joke here, but I'm not going to touch it. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

This is why you never stand directly under the mast when dropping it, imagine it boinging off your head.. I lost my pin so I've been using an allen wrench.

I have also taken to tying a line from the mast to the dolphin striker bolt immediately below the mast foot. I initially used a separate line, but now use the downhaul lines which are attached to the mastfoot. This is on a Shadow, when dropping the mast solo - the Shadow has no pin (it has some other ingenious design that should prevent the foot jumping off the ball, but I don't trust myself that much). If a pin is meant to be used (as on my Spitfire, Nacra 6, and Dart before that), I'll use the pin. I'm not sure I'd trust a line through the mast foot / ball in the place of a pin (wouldn't it just get cut through???), but I would tie it off externally.

My mast base is "home made", just a cilinder with a spheric cavity, as you can see on the picture. As it doesn´t have a slot to allow the rod to fit in at low angles, it will always pop out. But if I position the trailer mast cradle in the right place, I can use it as support, to start raising and stop lowering at a minimum angle, then it doesn´t pop out. It doesn´t work for stepping the mast from the trailer (in that case I've managed to raise it with someone standing on the ground, helping me get some angle).

When lowering it frecuently pops out, either if I'm too lazy to position the trailer or if I'm lowering from the trailer. I always use the safety line (externally) and never ask anybody to receive the mast, even if there is somene available. When the mast pops out, it´s hard to control it, but it is possible to drop it smooth enough. I would say the harder issue to overcome for solo righting is to be able to keep kids and people away from the landing spot. But I guess that applies to everybody, not just to my weird setup.

I have thought of some upgrade to make the mast step captive, but I was suspicious about the ball popping out of the rod. Now that I see it has happened to at least three, I'm not sure if it´s really worth. Not whith the old ball I have anyway...

That´s my daughter, by the way.. And my super cool ski pole tiller again...

So you only use a "safty line" with nothing holding the mast to the base? sounds very dangerious... How many times has the mast bounced off the ground?

None, it comes down smoothly. I make it pop out when I'm ready. The line needs to be short.

I did experience a very dangerous situation once. When I first installed the mast step, I just inserted it into the mast and used it. It didn´t have anything to keep it in place. But it didn´t really seem that it would get out by any mean. And it worked fine for two or three days, even with some decent wind. Then one day I decided to push the boat to slide it into the water, and I pushed right on the mast base, making it rotate backwards and come out of the mast. I don´t remember if it rotated all the way or not, but by miracle the mast stayed vertical and I could lower it with the help of other people in the beach, without killing anybody..

And last week I was sailing in light wind and saw a shroud hanging free.. fortunately the leeward one.. I managed to keep the boat on the same direction and re-attach it. One of the plates of the adjuster was bent, so it was open like a V. By miracle the pin was still there and I could put it back in place and get a ring from another piece of hardware. All that a few meters from the shore, unable to change direction..

I suppose that the adjuster was twisted when I raised the mast and got bent. Then the ring received too much pressure and was cut. Or maybe it just got out somehow, who knows. Now I have something else to double check after I raise the mast. I wonder if there are transparent shroud andjuster covers..

I too have been sailing and noticed a side stay flapping in the wind... YIKES!

On my old boat(TheMightyHobie18) i had to tention my forestay with the side adjusters and got sick of having to tape and retape the rings every time so i switched to shackles.

I now keep a bunch of spare shackels, rings, and pins onboard and ready to replace in a pinch. I keep them close to where i think i may need them.

Clear andjuster covers is a great idea. Perhaps some clear tubing could be used.