I need a bit of insight please; I am in the process of starting some work which I should have started a few months ago...
One of the first items on the list is to have the mast base of my commander replaced. The current base is made from a wooden laminate which has performed nicely, but it is weathered and it is starting to delaminate at the edges. Since I have the mast off now, this would be a good time to replace this.
The manual recommends having an aluminum version machined, but hardwood would look the best... I have seen Phenolic plastic also (on A-100)
http://www.pearsonariel.org/discussion/showthread.php?t=691&page=2&highlight=burke (POST #27)
Would the aluminum be too hard? (unyielding?) The base sits on top of the deck which has holes for the screws and the wiring conduit; I magine that there is a bit of deck that gets sandwiched between the mast base and the top plate on the compression post?
I also like the plate that Ebb and Ed have incorporated into their mast bases... The hinge adds quite a bit of simplicity to the process of unstepping the mast... (no crane!)
http://www.pearsonariel.org/discussion/showthread.php?t=249&page=5 (POST # 67)
I'd be grateful for any recommendadions...
FYI - Pearson sold an aluminum mast base for the Ariel/Commander in the 1980's. We have one on Maika'i. The manual includes a drawing of the base.
I integrated the above mentioned aluminum base with the hinge made by Ballengers before I sold Ariel Spirit.
Maybe C-Amos or the current owner would be so good as to post a photo of that.
I replaced the step and added a hinge.
Some discussion here
http://pearsonariel.org/discussion/showthread.php?t=204
Another pic here
Excuse the seaweed
http://www.pearsonariel.org/discussion/attachment.php?attachmentid=3452&stc=1&d=1152544919
This is great! Thank you...
Commanderpete - I was noticing the difference between the Ariel & Commander base's dimensions as I compared the drawing with my current base. I was wondering if this was an isolated case, but it does seem that they are different by design... Thank you just the same.
I am in the process of pricing a new base and designing a way to incorporate a hinge into this scheme...
More news & pictures soon...
Quote from: Rico;15130I am in the process of pricing a new base and designing a way to incorporate a hinge into this scheme...
Have you looked at the one in the manual's appendix?
Ahhh...
I thought I had... :o
I've read through the whole thing Bill - Really! :)
Let me have a look again... I have overlooked things that were on there...