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...................................................................--- Mast Crutch ---
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If you trailer your Mac very far I would recommend making a mast crutch for it. If it is only supported at the stern and bow you will notice that it has a lot of bounce in the middle of the mast when it is down and horizontal. I can't believe that is good for it. The crutch will not only help the mast itself by supporting it you will find that it also helps you while you are in the boat while it is on the trailer. Now that the mast is supported you can use it as a brace as you move about on the boat while it is on the trailer without fear of bending it and it will give you a much steadier hand hold.
Since we sleep in the boat a lot on the road.................
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................ we also raised the mast in the back enough that it clears the bimini while it is upright and also clears the pop-top when it is raised. This was accomplished..........
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........................with this new support at the stern.
The crutch also has the added benefit of holding the pop-top upright since you can secure the pop-top to the crutch like you do to the mast. This also helps while working on the boat at home when you are getting in and out of it and when it is handy to have the pop-top upright.
In the following pictures I had the boat inside the shop and had the mast off to the side of the boat out of the way. Later I'll try and get some pictures with the mast on the crutch and post those.
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Here is the crutch. It is made out of a piece of wood that I had. I ripped it to fit inside of the mast stepping plate or whatever that is called. There is a hole at the bottom with a bolt through it than acts like a pin and it has a hole in the end and has a quick release pin in it (no nut). Part way up is a cleat with a line. I wrap the line over the mast to hold it down on the crutch while on the road. That also locates the crutch fore and aft on the mast.
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The arrow points to a smaller bolt through the crutch that is held on by a nut on the arrow side. The part of the bolt past the nut goes through the hole in the front of the pop-top and then a nut is put on to hold the pop-top upright.
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These is a better picture of the cleat and the bolt at the bottom of the crutch. The smaller captive pin is held on with a chain, so that it isn't lost.
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A better view of the bolt that is there for the pop-top. Also in these pictures you can see the "V" cut into the top of the crutch to locate the mast.
This is a fast and simple mod that is very functional.
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