Mast

[Guest]

New DS 1 owner and I'm wounfering what's the difference between a Tabernacles and a hinge are. Thanks.

Joe
68 DS1

Joe (jofern-at-suffolk.lib.ny.us)

[Guest]

I think that when you cut the mast you use a "hindge" device to connect the two pieces together again to retain keel step position but allows to raise and lower mast from the hindge joint. Whereas the tabernacle would be a deck mounted device, with the butt end of the mast about deck level. I need a hindge and will be shopping around for one this weekend, so don't quite know what they look like yet.

DS 129 (ghampe-at-rcn.com)

[Guest]

Tabernacle and mast-hinge are essentially two names for the same thing. As mentioned above, the "mast-hinge" is more or less spliced into the mast just above the deck, and allows the mast to be easily lowered. The part of the mast that goes through the deck to the keel (or the cuddy floor on a DS II or III) remains in place even if the two halves of the hinge are separated. In many cases the total mast can still be unstepped just like a one-piece mast, but most have the lower part of the mast pinned or screwed in place.
A Tabernacle is traditionaly a fitting that is bolted to the deck to allow the mast to pivot at deck level. There will be a separate support pole (compression post) under the deck to take the compression load of the mast. Some boats have an arch built into the deck to eliminate the need for that support pole. On the later Day Sailers that had a standard-equipment mast hinge, it is the same fitting as was used for the hinge that was spliced into the mast, but mounted to the deck with a non-removeable mast section below deck to support it.
The Spindrift (and Precision) DS I had a stainless-steel tabernacle, sort-of "U" shaped with a slot to accept a pivot pin on the mast.

Rod Johnson, SUNBIRD (rjohnson24-at-juno.com)

[Guest]

Thank You for clearing that up for me. Now I just have to decide if I want to cut my mast or Not.

Joe

Joe (jofern-at-suffolk.lib.ny.us)

[Guest]

Joe, if you think that you might race the boat I wouldn't cut your mast. You can not install a hinge and get the same stiffness that you can with a one piece mast. If you are planning to cruise the boat for a while cut away. the parts are available fron D&R Marine Inc. Good luck and good sailing.

Dick (acftguy-at-cox-internet.com)

[Guest]

Joe,
I recently cut the mast of my DS1 for the following reasons: I have a bad back and my sailing partner (my wife) has a bad knee.
The cutting/installing of the hinge was not hard. I used a recip saw to cut the mast square, removed about an inch from the upper section and installed the hinge. Seemed easy to me.
Been out sailing twice with the new hinged mast and I sure steps easier, with less anxiety for both of us. It also is easier to take down.

Go for it.

-Ron
Seattle WA
DS 3103
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RJ Swenson (rswenson-at-aisol.com)