Hi just posted an introduction in the DS I section on my new boat and have a question regarding the tabernacle set up that my boat has.
Did some searches and didn't see an answer.
My boat came with a tabernacle setup for the mast which for me was a positive feature. I've read the pros / cons.
The question I have is the lower section of the mast is not connected at all to the boat, so I was told by the previous owner that even with the tabernacle it will take two people to step the mast because as you are raising the top of the mast, the bottom also lifts off / out of place. Seems to defeat the purpose of having a tabernacle.
Rather than having an open bottom on the mast to fit on top a mast step casing, the bottom of the mast has a tenon shape sticking out made of hard plastic which fits into a "metal tray" where the mast rests.
The metal tray has side holes and there are pins / bolts going through the tray which prevent the foot of the mast to move back or forward.
To secure the bottom of the mast to the tray can I simply drill an appropriate sized hole through the mast tenon, step the bottom of the mast and secure with a clevis pin / cotter pin set up?
Pictures are worth a thousand words.
Thanks for any thoughts.
Rob