Why is it called stepping a mast?
Mast stepping is the process of raising the mast of a boat. It may be a ceremonial occasion on a new boat, a necessary step (as in stepping the mast of a small sailing dinghy or gig), or simply routine (as following seasonal maintenance on a sailboat).
What are mast steps?
: a wood or steel foundation on which a mast rests.
What is a mast step used for?
Mast Steps, or Mast Feet, are used on Deck or Keel to secure the base of the Mast. Mast Steps are usually bolted through the Deck, or into the Keel. Some Deck Steps incorporate a means of attaching Turning Blocks for Halyards and other Control lines.
How do you Unstep a sailboat mast?
Blue View – 10 Steps to Prep a Mast for Unstepping
- Pick a good yard.
- Remove and stow all the sails.
- Make a trip to the masthead and remove any fragile gear, like the wind instrument transducers and antennas.
- Remove all the cotter pins from the rigging turnbuckles.
What are the sails on a ship called?
Mainsail: As the name implies, this is the main sail of the boat. It is the sail attached to the back of the mast. Mast: The mast is a large, vertical pole that holds the sails up. Some boats have more than one mast.
How do you step a mast with a crane?
How to Step a Mast
- Build the mast either track up or track down depending on whether the crane will be set up forward of where the mast sits or aft of where the mast sits (bow-in or stern-to)
- Hang all standing rigging.
- Ensure all turnbuckles and stays are new or have been inspected and serviced.
What happens if a mast breaks?
A dismasting can also endanger lives after the mast has fallen. The reason is the broken tangle of mast, rigging, and sails usually remains attached to the vessel owing to the rigging. If waves bash a large broken mast section against a relatively thin modern hull, the entire vessel can be lost.
What causes a mast to break?
Mast break from two main causes: The first being a defective product due to imperfection in the manufacturing or material. A high-level carbon mast is a handcrafted, almost as a custom product. The second being from improper use.
What is a ship’s mast called?
sail nomenclature Starting at the bow in a two-masted vessel, the masts are termed the foremast and the mainmast; when the aftermast is considerably smaller they are named the…
How far apart should mast steps be?
Research suggested that steps are typically placed between 375mm and 500mm apart, so I chose to use 450mm spacing as a compromise between cost and comfort.