Mast tabernacle question (kinda long)

[Dave R]

The plans for the boat I'm working on call for a Doug fir or similar 4x4 (3-1/2x3-1/2) for the mast. It is to be chamfered and slighly tapered. The plan also calls for using a couple of 3" wide gate hinges for the tabernacle hinge--one on the front and one on the aft side. The hinge pin on the front is removable. When setting up the mast the pin is inserted to support the mast until the forestay is attached at the bow and the shrouds are tightened as neccessary. I know that's not very traditional but that's the way it is.

I was given a beautiful round mast which is 3-7/8" diameter along the bottom third or so. Obviously if I were to mill a flat large enough for the hinges as called for, I'd be almost halfay through the mast. That wouldn't be very strong.

I came up with this idea, instead, and I need opinions. I thought of making a steel plate which would be 3-7/8" wide and 24" long (maybe it wouldn't need to be that long?) and bolting it into a slot cut into the mating ends of the mast sections. Hopefully the drawing will show and will explain what I'm thinking. So? what do you say?
http://communities.msn.com/_Secure/0NwAAAK8TURlxkey8QmsyKQ3L9j3WJEY83wp4oog2ouJSXlYf2 tIhM7*dP!jmIM7AZrvmDXpID1mJGnIr1TLX9Q/Mast0.jpg

[Ian McColgin]

I'd be more inclined to glue on cheeks to each side to build up to flat athwartships. 'Twould look nicer than metal plates, more organic and all.

G'luck

[flyon]

There is a fair amount of compression on a mast you may want to consider providing blocks on each side of the plate so the bottom of the wood mast rest on its bottom, sitting on the top of the blocks not on the hindge bolt. smile.gif

[Dave R]

Ian, thanks. I'll give that some thought. Maybe that is the way to go.

Flyon, it might not be so clear in my drawing but the plan is to have the mast sitting on the base. When the mast is up, there'd be no downward load borne by the bolts. That's the reason for the elongated hole and the notch in the arc shaped slot--the two right most holes.