Does anyone have any suggestions for strengthening the mast stepping "system" on a P19? This uses the same system that all the smaller Prindles do with the H shaped plate and the two under sized pins. A 30 foot mast seems to make this strain and appear close to failing while raising the mast.

Thanks for your suggestions!

I'd suggest buying some stainless steel pins of the largest diameter that will fit through the hinge plate and mast step. They can handle much larger pins than those provided. Those pins tend to get bent raising the mast.

The pins are not really the worst weak point here, though strengthening (enlarging) them can't hurt. The little bent sheet metal gizmo that hinges the mast to the base casting gets all bent out of shape just about every time your raise the mast. I still have not addressed this weakness, but I did replace the original stainless pins with Avibank (I think these are made by Hartwell) aircraft style quick release pins. Even though these are hollow and no larger than original they are made of a far stronger alloy and don't bend.
To fix the other thing I think you could make a step link out of solid stainless plate; I don't see any reason why it has to be made of bent sheet metal. Of course it would probably weigh half a pound but then you could always just leave it on the beach after you step the mast. You don't need it again until you take it down anyway.

Jimbo

Both great ideas. I have already increased the size of the pin with 1/4 bolts. Didnt realize that the holes were larger than the pins. A solid plate will be my next step if it continues to be weak. Thanks for the help!

Be very careful about strenghting step links. One of their purposes is to bend rather than break something else.

If everything is working right a mast step should not bend. With everything working right, the main load is tension and some small bending.

A mast is a long lever. You can produce some big loads at the base. If something binds a flimsy step will bend. A solid plate will dent the mast or break something.

I am working on a step link for a Marstrom A. Since my history in structures has been kind of poor recently I borrowed a system to calculate loads for the CAD. My first cut was very solid and cool until the program indicated I might be able to break the base of my mast off. Since then sheet metal, bungee cords and nylon straps have looked pretty good.

Good point. I broke the cast aluminum mast base on my boat several years ago. I didn't have the hinge plate centered. I had to replace the mast base.

Yeah, that is a very good point. In the past when a step link was too mangled to use anymore, I have successfully substituted a small loop of 3/16 low stretch halyard line. It worked well, IIRC, though I thought it a little risky at the time. Perhaps the better answer to mast step woes on these >30' mast boats is the use of lateral restraint lines while stepping, rather than trying to strengthen the link.

Jimbo

Jimbo,

I think you have it exactly! I thought about this some and why it was so unstable on the way up and realized that if I used the front trap lines and tied stabilizing ropes from them down to the corners of the front crossbar it would put these stabilizing guy wires inline with the hinge point and it makes it rock solid side to side on the way up!

Add a winch and I will be able to hoist the sucker by myself! Thanks for all the info guys!!!!!!!