Shot in the dark here, but anybody out there got a Nacra 5.x mast base (post 1983 model, for the the 1.5 inch ball) on a shelf doing nothing? If you do, please PM me, I'll buy it. I've ordered one two weeks ago from the UK reseller, I'm still waiting for it and I'm getting no firm answer for a delivery date. As I can't sail until I have a replacement I'm getting desperate.

Thanks.

I might be able to help you. I know for sure I have the early unpinned ball setup, I'll have to go look in my bins. I'm in the US tho'

tamishel at yahoo

My problem is that I had to bring the mast down for the fist time since I bought the boat (Mast up storage is awesome <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> to perform some repairs on the trampoline and I noticed that:

- The mast base I have is the old unpinned setup
- The ball I had was the new model

So the ball got a beating, ended up stuck in the mast base and the whole setup was rotating around the pin rather than the mast rotating around the ball. I had to destroy the ball to get it out of the casting. I got a new ball, but I need either a new casting or a no longer manufactured 1.25 inch ball to get the mast back up properly... Old mast base on new ball does not inspire confidence!

If you have the part, I don't care where you are, I'll pay shipping.

Aw hell, I've got old balls ;-) if the oldstyle mast ball bushing is what you really need, then let's just get you that. See above email address, email me your address and I'll send you a bushing or two. We've been fab'ing our own for some time, Mcmaster carries the bulk plastic and we mill 'em out ourselves

Me too, but it hasn't slowed me down any. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

No, my balls aren't old after all...we used the ones we machined. So what I seem to have is a couple of old style mast bases and some 1.5" bearings. And two rather beaten, used oldstyle 1.25" bearings - one is usable but well worn, the other cracked and scary.

BUT....
McMaster-carr to the rescue! They have TEFLON, how kewl is that, in 1.25" just drill and install.

www.mcmaster.com

"Plastics
This product matches all of your selections.

Part Number: 9660K51
Material
Fluoropolymers
Fluoropolymer Material
Virgin Electrical Grade PTFE
Backing
Plain Back
Shape
Balls
Ball Type
Solid
Diameter
1.25"
Diameter Tolerance
±0.005"
Opaque
White
Operating Temperature Range
-328° to +500° F
Softening Point
Not Rated
Tensile Strength
Not Rated
Impact Strength
Not Rated
Tolerance
Standard
Grade
3
Hardness
Shore D: 50-65
Specifications Met
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Compliant
Note
Sphericity is 0.005""

What are you talking about? you dont even have a catamaran right now???? OOOOOOhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I've got a spare new style captive mast base for the 1.5" ball.

the old mast base and small ball combination went with a smaller post. you won't be able to use a small ball on the bigger post without redrilling and tapping. arg. sounds like you need the newer mast base, to use with your big ball/post. if you need the old post, let me know, i have four....

. i just looked at the old posts and was surprised to see both a coarse and a fine thread, to further confuse the issue. i would get that new base and a new big ball. good luck.

This is grand larceny. My part (No:6605) is finally in the mail from Nacra UK, three weeks after ordering it, and I just received a copy of the bill via email: £80.67, add shipping and 17.5% tax and the grand total is 104.08 pound sterling. For a mast base that cost $31 in the US (£16 at today's rate!). I'm all aware of distribution cost and currency exchange risk, but f!@#$% hell, that's a nice round 500% markup!

Tami send me an old mast ball, and frankly if it work I'm going to return the package to Nacra UK saying "no way" and buy the mast base from Philip who has one, or even from Murrays or this site: even with shipping it would be way way less money.

I'm all for supporting my local reseller, but this is extreme.

Okay, everything has an explanation. There is no 500% markup there.

First of all, thanks to Tami who send me a couple of old balls; I was able to sail my boat in the wednesday evening race after 4 weeks of begging other people to take me as a crew <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Thanks a lot again Tami!

Second Nacra send me not just a mast base, but a complete upgrade kit, and this explains the price hike. Mast base, ball, pin, fasteners, the whole lot. Comparing it with what's on the boat I needed it anyway: my current pin is not long enough and will not lift the mast high enough for the new mast base to fit and rotate. So I will have to put my mast down again sometimes and upgrade the whole setup.

anyone else have the 1.25" mast balls?

I will buy one... or a whole new base/ball upgrade

I owned an older nacra 5.8 and had the same problem. I took the new larger ball and shaped it to the best of my ability to look like the other one. It worked for years. I put it on the dolphin striker rod used a rasp and then sand paper to finish.