RS600 Questions
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Technique
Forum Discription: 'How to' section for dinghy questions and answers
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8115
Printed Date: 07 Aug 25 at 7:13pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: RS600 Questions
Posted By: Enoch
Subject: RS600 Questions
Date Posted: 05 Aug 11 at 2:51pm
|
I just recently got my boat out of my garden, and in a club
compound and whilst putting the mast up for the first time I noticed it’s very
lose on the pintle. It seems to float on it, not a tight fit like I expected. Also at the front of the mast extension, there is a gap at
the front when I tension the forestay. Is this normal? And finally the halyard has a toggle on the end that emerges
from the top of the mast, and I was expecting to be at the other end to pull
down on. Its the first time I rigged it all up so Im pretty clueless! Thanks ------------- RS600 CBR900RR |
Replies:
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 05 Aug 11 at 3:20pm
|
The mast has to rotate on the bearing thing, so a certain degree of play is expected.
Not sure where your second gap so can't comment. Do you mean at the foot of the mast or where the mast extension slots in the mast. The toggle is for attaching the main to the halyard. Pull the halyard through the eye at the top so there's a loop sticking out, put the end with the toggle through the loop and then pull tight. This gives you a neat and easy to undo connection at the top. |
Posted By: Enoch
Date Posted: 06 Aug 11 at 1:28pm
So thats what the toggles for! Thanks for the info!  I mean where the mast extention slots in to the mast. A gap appears at the front when you tention the forestay. Also I never know how much i should tighten the forestay. I didnt tighten it much partly because of the gap. ------------- RS600 CBR900RR |
Posted By: Neptune
Date Posted: 06 Aug 11 at 10:45pm
|
The Pintle or mast stump is meant to be a relatively loose fit - it has to rotate and deal with various mast rakes as well as quite significant changes between loaded and unloaded kicker tensions - just note though that the mast foot should never touch the stainless base of the pintle - if its does you'll tear the screws out the hull. The plug does wear - its a relatively soft alloy compared to the pintel; in this case you need to dome a 5p (fits just so) and then its easist to epoxy it into the mast plug. You;ll then raise the mast slighlt and its cheaper than buying new plugs. For teh mast bast - this should be a tight fit in teh main mast section - the sleeve in the bottom and that in the mast are unique to each other (withing reason) so that once the base is in it cannot turn without teh upper mast turning. If you apply rig tension you shouldn;t be able to open up a gap - you are putting the mast under compression and if anything, as you don't have swept spreaders, you'll bend gradually the mast forwards without the sail up! In terms of sailing you'll looking for relatively ligt tension - say 150 to 200lbs on the shrouds for medium conditions . too much tension and you impare the masts ability to rotate. You can eaither use a guage or load the forestay up and then just walk back and hook on to teh trapeze wires and hang theer - you'll be taking most of the tension out of the shrouds. From there a little less in light winds and a bit more in windier. Good luck and if you want more advice you'll probably find quicker answers if you Join the RS600 Yahoo group. Cheers. ------------- Musto Skiff and Solo sailor |
Posted By: Enoch
Date Posted: 09 Aug 11 at 11:30am
Thanks for all the valuable info Neptune, a very informative post, just what I needed. Now I just need to figure out how to dome a 5p, and buy me a loos gauge. Will I only have to use a 5p if the base of the mast is touching the base of the pintle? Thanks again :)
------------- RS600 CBR900RR |
Posted By: Neptune
Date Posted: 09 Aug 11 at 12:47pm
|
How to dome a 5p: I have an old mast foot/ pintle thing, but otherwise - take off the pintle from boat. Drill a hole in a block of wood enough to fit locator bar underneath pintle into (this helps hold in in place). Take mast foot out of mast. Place 5p in mast foot and then put together with pintle/ wooden block. Smack mast base with with mallet (wood or plastic rubber) so that it deforms the 5p to your mast pintle. Mix up small amount of epoxy and glue 5p in so you don't loose it. Re-screw the mast pintle on - remember to use a little sealant around screws. This also gives you a chance to make sure the screws are still tight (worth regularly doing anyway). Re-insert mast base plug.....rock on and go sailing. Does that make sense? ------------- Musto Skiff and Solo sailor |
Posted By: Enoch
Date Posted: 10 Aug 11 at 6:45pm
|
Yea mostly, except for the locator bar part. Im going to buy a pintle to use, as I dont feel confident taking the one on the boat off. Im a noob to all this. Do I only have to do this if the base of the mast is touching the mast step? Thanks ------------- RS600 CBR900RR |
Posted By: Neptune
Date Posted: 10 Aug 11 at 7:57pm
|
only if its touching yes - or you could fork out an buy a new mast plug. If you were to take the hull fitting off under the round plate of the mast pintle (that is held on by 3 stubby screws) is a stainless peg (about the length of the pintle that goes into the hull); helps to take some of the lateral loading out from the screws. Clearer? ------------- Musto Skiff and Solo sailor |
Posted By: Enoch
Date Posted: 11 Aug 11 at 8:19pm
Ah, yes I understand now. Thanks for clearing that up. Ill check to see if its touching next time I rig the boat up. Call me lazy but I'd probably just buy a new mast plug, unless they are ludicrously expensive. Knowing my luck something would go very wrong lol. I've had the boat nearly 4 years now and its just been sat in the garden up until about 2 months ago. I want to get the boat out on the water before the summer ends. I got all the gear now, I could just do with a set of narrow wings because apparently Im a bit too heavy for the wide ones on the boat. Thanks again for the help / info / advice  ------------- RS600 CBR900RR |