Mast Tabernacle corrosion fix

[Spapa]

Hi,

I have this going on at the mast tabernacle. Looks like corrosion is building up and causing separation of some sort. Any ideas about what’s going on and the right fix?

[jalmeida51]

I don't think corrosion is causing your problem, you do have some corrosion at the base of your mast. It appears that your tabernacle hinge is distorted. I have a 1981 Daysailer1 built by Rebel and after a sail in some strong winds I noticed my stays were rather loose. Then I had 3/32 shrouds and forestay. Next day I noticed the bottom hinge that bolts through the cuddy roof had a gap just like the gap on your mast. Two of the four 1/4 inch bolts were loose and pulling through the cuddy cabin roof. Also there was a smaller gap at the hinge at the mast base. I had a local machine shop make up a stainless steel plate to beef up my roof so the bolts can't pull through it. Upgraded the the shrouds and forestay to 1/8 inch with turnbuckles. Replaced the spreaders with heavy duty type. Replaced the tabernacle hinge. After all of that I haven't had any more problems.

You could remove the tabernacle hinge and lay it on a flat piece of metal and see if the hinge lays flat. If it is not flat you could try to pound it back into shape. Check the 4 bolts attaching the hinge to the cuddy and make sure your shrouds and forestay are tensioned properly. If you have 3/32 shrouds you should consider to replace them with 1/8 with turnbuckles.

Best of luck, John

[Spapa]

That makes sense. Thanks for the feedback!

Steve

[jalmeida51]

Steve, One thing I forgot to mention was do you moor your boat? My owners manual states don't moor the boat. The boat out on a mooring could do damage to the standing rigging, bouncing around in choppy waters. I keep my boat docked at a very protected dock at a boat yard. I have had my boat on a mooring up in Maine for about a month with no damage. This was after I beefed up the standing rigging. If you are going to moor your boat talk to Rudy at D&R Marine.

John

[GreenLake]

Proper rig tension may also help with preventing damage.

[Spapa]

I trailer the sailboat. I looked at it a little more closely and it seems the corrosion is causing the separation as opposed to a bent tabernacle. I might just replace the tabernacle as I think it is "original." I recently purchased the heavier standing rigging, so hopefully that will add some strength to it all.