Carbon Mast Tips

[Billy Ellis]

After my first gathering I must say I am pleased with the carbon stick. A scull session around the Goombay Smash Machine (from which this point I'll refer to it as the Tasmanian Devil or perhaps The Taz for short) I learned a few things I had not thought of before.
1) It would be a good idea to to add some type of bushing to protect the carbon spreader tips from sawing action of the shroud.
2) It would be a good idea to to protect the base of the mast from the jib clew and associated blocks dinging it up.
3) Goombays make for a wicked good time and when passed around judiciously can enhance your chances of winning by severly deminishing your competitors skill-set. Kind of reminded me of encounters with the twisted sisters when sailing on SF Bay years ago.

[Gregg Henning]

Number #3 was always my intention but has never fulfilled its intent as sailors can handle their drinks much better than most, but the drink still stands as a great party and group bonding event.

Thanks for the story.  I am glad to hear the Goombay Smash has continued during my new job endeavors!

[Tac Boston]

I actually think that the rig guys should do away with the way the spreader tips are done now and go back to the open "yolk" design that we have on the tin rigs. The reason for this is for any of the teams that use the black "bolt on" handles for on the water shroud adjustment, you have to take those off each time to travel or leave the shrouds in the tips.

This is just a time/ease issue for those that do a lot of travel and also will keep the rig in better shape over a period of time. BUT, if you are going to keep the rigs the same then I would do what Billy says, I think a really really smart dude came up with that idea

BTW, my opinion is that Goombay's are hideous, foul tasting creatures and should be avoided.

[Steve Rose]

Sorry for the off-topic post.....
   

   BTW, my opinion is that Goombay's are hideous, foul tasting creatures and should be avoided.  

Funny how everyone 'complains' about the Goombay's.    But somehow they're always gone by the end of the evening.   

[Tac Boston]

That's just because after 1 you can feel your face let a lone your tongue

[Mark Dobie]

A few more thoughts

- We put epoxy in the Carbon mast spreader holes in order to seal the Carbon exposed by the drill holes for the uppers.  It's a start but still not enough.  You really need those inserts Billy is talking about because the uppers will saw. The Yolk with a plastic (or lifeline) covers on the uppers would even be better
- The track is too tight for the Bolt Rope. Either we need a smaller Bolt Rope, a bigger track or a heavy cover on the main halyard to make it easier to hoist.
- If you use Tyaska thimbles or a shackle at the Head of your spinnaker, wrap them in rigging tape in case they bang the mast.
- Goombays are the best drink ever created and Goombaqariums improve them.  Thanks to Gregg and Steve.

Mark #121

[Don Corey]

Just a thought in reference to the carbon spreader tip.  Installing an aluminum sleeve with a hole large enough for the turnbuckle stud to pass through is going to need to be 7/16" OD minimum.  That's a large hole for that tiny spreader tip.
Wrap the shroud with 2" wide UHMW tape about seven or eight turns centered where the spreader bears against the shroud.  This will snug up the slop and prevent the shroud from chaffing the carbon hole.
Certainly worth a try.
Don

[Michael Eisenberg]

I've written a program to make this Stainless Steel attachment for the mast step.  It holds the shrouds (including the forestay) in the rigged position for traveling. I attach the turnbuckles, then add a little tension so that don't slap against the mast.  See attachment

[Brad Boston]

That is a Kick Ass Go Cart on the wall...And a Kick Ass tow Vehicle...
Brad

[Peter Juryn]

and that's his small rig!

 

[Billy Ellis]

I just figured out that the jib sock (if you have one) makes a decent mast cover untill you can get one.

[Trent Watkins]

Hey Billy I have a new jib sock never out of the bag. Did you use yours on the stick while it was up or down? Guessing down?

I was thinking I would use it for the trailer effort but can't really sort out a good cover for when the stick is stored in the up position. I suspect that we'll be painting UFO's new rig white with a proper paint in the near future the clear coat is nice but kinda fragile given all the action the masts see.

Chuck Allen had a cool idea regarding protective patches on the mast and we will give it a try. The 3M clear guard material used in body shops ie hoods - bumpers mirrors etc to protect against rock chips etc is pretty tough stuff and Chuck had an idea to have his custom car shop sort out a template for the front of the mast and maybe try two layers and see how it holds up against the jib clew beating etc.

When we get around to it Ill report back.
Trent

[Billy Ellis]

I use the jib sock while the rig is down. I zip it from the mast head to the spreader and then use ties the rest of the way. Seems to work pretty good. I'm thinking of adding a second zipper from the spreader down. As far as dongs I'm thinking of using black gorilla tape in the area where the clew bangs to protect the carbon. I am also thinking of Painting the mast head and the tops of the spreaders for additional UV protection. The Horizonal surfaces get a ton more uv exposure than the vertical surface when the rig is up.