by GreenLake » Fri Sep 30, 2022 9:33 pm
There are two setups for desk stepped masts: one uses a "hinge" where each half is bolted to the mast. The pin for the hing can be removed, to take the mast off completely, or it is put in a the aft position, to complete the hinge to raise the mast. A second pin (forward) is used to "lock" the hinge (after the stays have all been attached).
The other setup is a plate with a bit of track and two pins. Together this forms a square receptacle and one would typically have a square mast end that is inserted. In that setup, the mast is held in place by tension from the stays. If the boat slams into waves, the hull may flex just a bit so as to unload the stays. If the tension isn't high enough, and the receptacle is very shallow, the mast foot could jump out. One thing to make sure is that the compression post below the deck is firm and does not allow the deck to flex.
I used to own a boat that had the second kind of arrangement. Not a DS, but a dinghy of similar size. The downside compared to a true tabernacle was that the mast needed to be stood upright and then transferred, while still upright to the mast step (and then secured). In contrast, a tabernacle acts like a hinge and the mast can be stood up in place (with the shrouds connected and the forestay replaced temporarily by a halyard).
With the track+pins arrangement, there is often the ability to change the mast step location by simply moving the pins to a different hole. Is that the kind of setup you have?
~ green ~ lake ~ ~