Mast step design for sprit rig

[1stnewyorker]

Hi Gang, another dumb question regarding my sprit-rigged dory ("General Arnold")nearing completion. Can anyone offer a suggestion on what my mast step should look like? I can't tell from the lines drawings. I've read from various sources that the mast of a sprit rig should be allowed to rotate somewhat, so should my step be some sort of round socket? Any ideas, and especially pictures, would be GREATLY appreciated.

[Brian Palmer]

I've had two boat with sprit rigs and mast rotation did not happen and did not seem to affect sailing. Even so, a round hole is easy enough to make with a large auger or hole saw in a block that is then securely fastened to the keel or bottom.

-- Brian

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

Is the mast to be "stayed" or "unstayed"?

The amount of mast rotation is usually small.
A stayed mast could use a variety of different forms of mast step.

An unstayed mast needs two holes, the upper one is usually made in a thwart, and the lower one is a "blind hole" (socket) in the actual step.

[scepticus]

Here's the mast step from the sprit rigged core sound skiff we built at woodenboat a couple years ago.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid73/p5ff5d6ad3f8f848bf7cb97ec6fdfc495/fb724ae3.jpg

note the square hole. There was no discussion of mast rotation or anything. There was a second hole in the thwart just above this one which was a tad oversized and the mast was fixed in place with a handful of thin wedges.

[willmarsh3]

I'm building a sprit rig for my Elver. Last week I cut the hole in the mast step with a hole saw, then chiseled it out a bit, then used a round sandpaper cylinder powered by a drill to smooth it out into a truncated cone shape about 2 1/2" deep and accommodating the bottom of the mast. The mast is free to rotate but I'm told by others that it generally does not.

Will.

[DougWilde]

From my build of Williwaw, a Windward 15. Half way down the page is a section on the mast step. The section on the sprit has not been added, yet.

Williwaw's mast, mast step, and partners (http://dbwilde.home.comcast.net/Williwaw/maststep.html)

Doug Wilde

[J. Dillon]

Another thought on enabling the mast to rotate is to not only to make a round holed mast step but to put put a round brass plate (over the coin of course) and drive a large round head screw into the bottom of the mast and some water pump grease on the round brass plate. This will decrease the friction between the two touching surfaces making it easier for the mast to turn. JD

[Mike Field]

.
Good thinking, Jack.

On the other hand, I have to say that I've deliberately stopped Aileen Louisa's mast from rotating because of the effect on the halyards, which I use as pseudo-shrouds. It hasn't affected her sailing qualities noticeably.
.

[1stnewyorker]

Great advice and thanks for the pics. My boat will be unstayed with a hole cut in her thwart.