Per my post in the Open forum, I broke part of my mast hinge assembly. However, as i shopped for a "step hinge" I don't think that is what is broken,
Unless I daft or the hinge shot into the water (who knows at this point), I thought the base plate pinned directly into the mast step. In any event, the aluminum piece that sits directly on top of the bearing/mast step casting is what broke. The flange that had an eye in it (to put the pin in) broke off.
This is NOT the piece that is permanently attached to the mast. The part that one pins, that hinges it to the mast, is what broke. So I had a mast with a "mast step" still firmly and permanently attached to it and a "mast base" left dangling no longer attached to the boat.
Am I making any sense here? Sorry if I'm confusing you with my lack of knowledge, but there is a "Fun Sail" with fleet 25 and I'm terrified that I wont be able to sail my boat and thus, remain clueless.
The piece in question when unpinned from both the mast and the boat weighs maybe 1 lb. It is cast aluminum and operates like a female portion of a ball hitch, attaching to the mast bearing and getting pinned in place and then getting pinned in a hinge fashion to the mast.
Sorry this seems to redundant, but without being sure of the correct terminology I'm try make sure my incorrect usage is not throwing knowledgeable people off. I'm sure I sound like a tool.
Buy this and problem solved?
http://store.catsailor.com/tek9.asp?pg= ... jnnpfooqh4