What a P.I.A.

Tortuga's Lie · **Joined:** 27 Oct 2006 10:32 **Posts:** 827

We bought our T-37 back in '95 and I put on a new mast boot shortly there after. Well, the boot finally got the boot and I broke down and bought a new one. This time out, I thought it might be a good idea to re-bed the mast partner will I'm at it since I suspect that it might be leaking anyway. We don't pull our mast since we are here on the Chesapeake so having the mast in place made the job rather, well, a pain in the butt Mad

The problem was mainly the dense rubber pads that Tartan used in place of mast wedges. These things took an act of congress to get them out and on the return trip as well. The tension on the rig has nothing to do with it either because it's the space btween the mast and these rubber pads is jsut too tight for the thickness of the pads. The rubber pads need to be compressed enough to get the first one out, I would suggest a 3 foot long pry bar and once the first one is out, the second is a piece-o-cake. Once the mast is free, you can see how flexible the spar is and you can see now that the rig tension has nothing to do with getting the mast wedges(pads) out. I would suggest to spread some liquid dishwashing soap over the rubber pads to help lubricate them (especially on the return trip).
This mast partner was sealed with silcone and for the most part, was pretty much in tact except for the forward facing flange where the water was ingressing. I cleaned up the silicone the best I could and re-bedded with butyl tape. The mast partner is through bolted, so this is a two person job at times to hold the wrench and/or screwdriver.
The new mast boot went on without issue but the re-bedding of the partner took quite awhile........P.I.A. Rant

jvoelxen · **Joined:** 21 Oct 2006 15:36 **Posts:** 268

Regarding the wedge removal/reinstallation process, I've done the following which makes it easier: take a jib sheet, secure it to one of your genoa sheet winches, bring it forward around the mast slightly above the partners and return it to the other winch. Crank the mast aft with the winch and you should be able to remove the forward side wedge. Release the sheet tension and the aft wedge can be easily removed. Reverse the process for reinstallation.

Tortuga's Lie · **Joined:** 27 Oct 2006 10:32 **Posts:** 827

Jim,
Did you do this for your Tartan? If so, did you have the rubber pads like I'm talking about or wood wedges? On my boat, I would think you would have to exert too much force on it for the winches and sheets to handle. I had a three foot crow bar as a lever to pry with and it was about all I had to give to compress the rubber pad. It could be that those rubber pads have gotten more rigid over the last 35 years since they had been installed and they were at one time, more compressible???

Of course, if you are planning on pulling your mast, this would be an ideal time to re-bed the mast partner but since I live in an area where this isn't typically done for winter storage, I have never pulled it.

Tom

jvoelxen · **Joined:** 21 Oct 2006 15:36 **Posts:** 268

Tom-
Yes, on my T37C. I do have the rubber-like wedges, dark brownish color, and translucent if I recall.
Last time I did it was about 8 years ago. You do have to crank it pretty hard, but it works on my boat. Learned it from the head rigger at one of the larger boat yards in the area that had been servicing Tartans for years.
Agree that its a good time to rebed the partners. Will probably unstep my mast next year to check things out and do it then.

Timshel · **Joined:** 29 Dec 2010 10:24 **Posts:** 193

Tom, I also do mine with a winch as I have to pull it each winter,here is a quote from my original owners instruction book.
''CHOCKING THE MAINMAST: After the mast is in the boat,rig a line from the mast up to a snatch block held in the stem head.Lead the line either to a halyard winch or a cockpit winch and pull the mast as far ahead in the partners as possible.Insert the thick piece of rubber provided,centered in the aft portion of the space between the partners and the mast. Ease off on the line pulling mast ahead in order to hold the rubber in position. Now rig a line extending around the forward part of the mast to snatch blocks attached in the rail, and to the cockpit winches. Have two strong people grind both cockpit winches simultaneously in order to pull the mast aft and compress the rubber chock on the aft side of the mast.Spray a small quantity of silicone or other non-petroleum lubricant onto the mast,the partners,and the chocking material. Slide the chocking material into the forward space between the partners and the mast. It will be a tight fit. Release the line holding the spar aft.
Hose clamps are provided to encircle the spar and chocking material just below the partners to hold the chocks in place while sailing''
Regards Bruce.

Tortuga's Lie · **Joined:** 27 Oct 2006 10:32 **Posts:** 827

Thanks for the responses...good to know!
I wouldn't have thought that the force from the winches, with the stretch of the line, would be greater than the lever-arm of a 3-foot crow bar concentrated at that point, but I'm no physicist! I'll have to try this in the future........in about twenty years or so Cheers

Tartan37.com

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