Hi folks. This is my first post. I am new to cat and I have started the journey with a P16. I am still sorting out all the gegaws that came with the boat and the step hinge has me confused. I think I may have too many parts. And the manual is unclear about it. I seem to have all the parts of a step hinge system attached to the boat. Meanwhile there is a cup for the 1/2 ball at the bottom of the mast. Here are the pics:

The full monty on the boat:




With the cup on the ball:



And the mast with the seemingly redundant cup.



Do I have an extra part? The part on the mast has no flange for the stepper hinge. What am I missing here? Thnaks in advance.

Christian

Based on http://www.performancecat.com/prindle/pdffiles/Prindle151618Manual.pdf page 14, it looks like you have two (2) mast base castings, one with a stepping hinge and one without a stepping hinge.

You are correct, you have too many mast base plates. One has a hinge hole but the one in your mast doesn't, so here's what you can do: Drill out the rivets holding on the mast base, get some new rivets, slide the hinged mast base into the mast after you take out the old one, re-rivet that base to the mast, then step it. OR...don't remove your mast base, but undo the hinged plate, save it for another day. Then get someone big and strong to hold the base of your mast in place on the half ball, while you walk the mast up into possition. You don't want to be doing this on a regular basis, it can get ugly if the guy holding the mast base slips! Better to have a couple guys helping you. But if you are going to be taking the mast down often, you are better off to replace the step it has with the one with the hinge.

Awesome. I'll let y'all know how the transplant goes.

Christian

Remember to take the hinge pin out after you step the mast so it is free to rotate when sailing, as in the lower picture.

I drilled out the rivets and put the hing-able base plate in No sweat there. I have the mast up and am putting a sail and boom on later this afternoon. This is really an inventory/ shake down set up to make sure I have everything. It looks pretty complete so far. Thanks for the advice.