Mast Jack

[jack59]

I'm a new owner of DS1 3455 and have read various things about a mast jack, my boat doesnt appear to have one. Am I supose to have one? Or is this an add on?

[Roger]

Having owned a DS II, I am no expert on the mast jack issue as I think they were more of a thing on the earlier DSI's. I also think that boats with a mast jack, did not have turnbuckles or shroud adjusters on the forestay or sidestays, (shrouds). The mast jack was used to tighten up the rigging once the mast was raised and the fixed stays attached.

So on your boat, if you have a way of adjusting the forestay and shrouds, ( turnbuckles or adjusters) you don't need to retrofit a mast jack.

[hightide]

I agree, John, the mastjack is an elegant piece of work. I have one on my Ospray that I plan to brighten up and lightly oil. Currently I'm using a piece of steel rod from a socket set, but I hope to find a stainless or brass rod (or two) and drill a hole through one end so that I can tether it to the boat.

Dave T. has a photo of an absolutely gorgeous mast jack on his Javelin restoration page. The fun way to go to that site (and the way I do it) is to first go to the http://www.shortypen.com site, then click on
Sailboats Back from the Dead link under "sailboat guides." Select the link to Javelin restoration project and then click on the Brightworks_Fittings page.

Now go back and look over the wonderful job he did on his Javelin. It is very inspiring and has worked to motivate me (along with the many photos here of restored day sailers).

Jack59, your boat looks like it was built between 1966 and 1968. Just my vern novice guess.

I've been putting a little hull and class number chart together for anyone interested. It's in my album at

[dsheer]

IMHO It's likely that the boat originally had a mast jack, and prolly still does. If not, sorry for you - for it helps to set the boat up quickly. The jack (if you have one) will be at the very base, below the cuddy, right on the keelson (the ridge on the floor). It will be a brass ring with 4 holes (the collar). The holes will be 5/16" diameter at 90 degree angles. You may see the thread on the brass support under the collar that actually mounts the jack in the slot cut in the keelson. If you don't, the collar's likely all the way down, and prolly stuck to boot.

You should be able to raise the mast off the jack (it sticks up about 4 inches), and then remove the jack (there should be some bolts through the keelson holding it on). I used WD 40, a vise and a channel lock to get the collar to move for the first time. I suggest you clean it up and grease it well. Also clean up the aluminum plate at the bottom of the mast (that rides on the brass collar). Sand the base smooth for less friction, and apply some marine grease. I use a 5/16 x3" ss bolt as a handle; it fits in the holes on the collar. Longer bolt might be better, depending on how much junk you keep on the cuddy floor.

Good Luck and good sailing.

There's a previous thread on using the mast jack which I started when I didn't know anything (my kids will tell you that's still the case). It's in the Rigging section of this forum. Turns out some of the old timers (relative to me) didn't know jack about mast jacks either. Live and learn.

Dan

[jack59]

Thanks to all for your replies

A note to hightide nice spreadsheet and thanks for ball parking the age of my craft, I dont know exactly how old it is, but thought it to be around 1970 vintage. As for your assumption on hull color in your spreadsheet, you're right on...light blue!