Bail size for mast

[NateD]

My boat is currently under a tarp, and from an awkward position I tried measuring the mast and came up with 3x5" with the sail track being 1" deep. I'm building a mast raising system and I need to put a bail on the mast, but I'm not sure what size to buy. So the bail needs to be about 3x5" or so to have 1" sticking out to attach lines to. Does that seem correct?

I'm thinking stainless steel for strength, but the aluminum ones are significantly cheaper. The only 3x5" stainless bail I can find at defender is this one: http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|118|319697|311639|311640&id=117392

For aesthetics I would prefer more of a rounded nose than the pointy one, and I'm not crazy about the $48 price. Anyone have a better idea?

I'm building a system like brackish has done (http://cpyoa.geekworkshosting.com/forum/index.php?topic=2609.0), taken from here (http://www.tropicalboating.com/sailing/mastraising.html).

[brackish]

Nate, the one I used is pictured below.  It works fine.  I'll check my files tomorrow to see where I got it..  I know it didn't cost anywhere near that much.

[brackish]

The one that is pictured is a Ronstan model RF 1046, 2-3/4" X 4" boom bail.  I got it from West Marine, their number129619.  In 2009 it cost $13.02, currently listed on WM at $16.11.  It is through bolted with a 1/4" machine screw, and I think I used an acorn nut to reduce snag potential.

It works fine, there is plenty of room to clip the spring clips for the two baby stays and the main ginpole line.

I reinforced it internally with an aluminum tube, in the same manner as the spreaders were done at the factory.  To do this you drill a hole for the through bolt with a 1/4" diameter on one side and a 3/8" diameter aligned with it on the other side.  That allows you to slip a piece of 3/8" OD aluminum tube into the larger side and it will not come out the smaller side.  Any forces that would tend to dimple or deform  the mast at that point would be transferred to the tube to prevent that from happening.  I'm not sure that is necessary, but since they did it for the spreaders, I decided to do that for the bail. 

When I bought the tube, minimum quantity was 2' and I used 2.75".  If you want to do that, and can't find a small piece locally,  I'll be glad to mail you a piece of tube to use for that purpose.

[NateD]

Wow, I can't believe that price difference. There is a Schaefer bail at Defender about the same size as the Ronstan at WM, but it costs almost three times as much!

Thank you very much for tracking down the part number, it looks like my measurements were slightly off. My plan was to just put the bolt through without a sleeve, but if I don't like the way that looks, I might get back to you about the tube.

Thanks again, I'll post pictures of my rig this spring.

[wes]

The difference is Schaefer vs Ronstan of course, not Defender vs West Marine. Ronstan's stuff is a great value, but Schaefer is ultimately higher quality. I just bought a Ronstan boom vang and was very pleased - they usually hit a sweet spot of price vs quality. Regardless of which you choose, Defender consistently underprices West Marine.

[SpeakEasy]

Nate and Brackish -

Did you fellows purchase the MacGregor system described on that link? The MacGregor website lists a mast-raising system for $155. Is that the one? Does it include everything but the mast bail?

-Speak

[brackish]

Nate and Brackish -

Did you fellows purchase the MacGregor system described on that link? The MacGregor website lists a mast-raising system for $155. Is that the one? Does it include everything but the mast bail?

-Speak

When I built mine a couple of years ago, I tried to buy the MacGregor pole, complete with winch.  The price was good, but with shipping from California it was a lot more.  Additionally, they didn't really want to sell it to me.  Questioned me a bunch to make sure I was not going to use it in an application to cause damage.  Probably sensitive to liability.   Then I couldn't get them to answer the phone.  So I made my own.  It cost less than the MacGregor delivered, but I had my time in it.  It is described in the articles section of this forum thread is on the first page.

I found out later that the reason they didn't answer my calls was because someone died in the organization that handles the MacGregor service parts and everyone was at the funeral, then things got backed up.

I think that price is for the pole with winch, but does not include the baby stays nor the line and block to handle the furler.

[SpeakEasy]

OK - back to this topic.

I have also been unable to get a response from MacGregor, and now I'd like to go ahead and make my own as well.

I don't want to be a pain, but, could you give me a parts list? I'm not real knowledgeable about the various rigging parts and their names. I can see in the photos how this is assembled and how it works, but to order all the parts is going to be a little tricky for me. Anything you can provide me with in terms of names of parts and sizes would be great. The level of detail given for the mast bail above is super! I have that information written down. But for the rest of the parts - can you give me any specifics?


Thanks!
-Speak

[brackish]

Speak,

not sure what you need.  When you say you've read the info are you talking about this http://cpyoa.geekworkshosting.com/forum/index.php?topic=3823.0 or the article in Tropical Boating.  The listed link to my article has most of the stuff identified.  What isn't identified is common stuff like pad eyes, spring clips, chain and wire rope and the hardware to install them.  A lot of it I just picked up at the hardware store with a  minimum working load of at least 250 or so and didn't keep records of the purchase.  Much of it is just galvanized rather than SS since this thing stays in my shed most of the time and not exposed to weather,  The brake winch is listed and I got mine from Fastenal.  The two blocks in the system, one for the winch line, the other for the furling line are not expensive sailing blocks, they are just strong and cheap.  Got them from Bosun Supply I think.  The pole, which is identified by size,  I got from a local metal supply house cut to the number of feet I need.

The base is a problem, I didn't buy it, but fabricated it out of 1/4" thick aluminum.  Next time I go to the boat, I can install it and take a picture of the system as it is set up.  You can devise  any method to attach the base to the the mast step using the two holes that already exist in the step. 

Might be easier to read the article and make a list of questions you have about certain items and I'll try to answer them for you.

[SpeakEasy]

Ah!! Thanks!!  I was reading the article here: http://www.tropicalboating.com/sailing/mastraising.html which is good, but not detailed enough to go shopping from. Yours is much more helpful.


-Speak

[NateD]

I'll post pictures of my raising system when I get a chance to test it out, probably in early April. My bracket design is the only significant change compared to brackish, and mine is mild steel so I can do the welding and fabrication myself. The mast bail was the only part needed from a marine supply store, the rest of the parts (metal, winch, eye bolts, block, rope, chain, clips, etc.) all come from the hardware store like brackish said.