Mast Base replacement

[Rico]

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...

[Bill]

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.

[mrgnstrn]

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.

[commanderpete]

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

[Rico]

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...

[Bill]

I 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?

[Rico]

Ahhh...
I thought I had...

I've read through the whole thing Bill - Really!  

Let me have a look again... I have overlooked things that were on there...