by Guest » Wed May 21, 2003 4:42 pm
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)