Newsletter Just In Time!!

[Tigerlily]

The Mast Tuning Guide by Spike Boston in the Spring 2006 issues of The S2 7.9m Class Act is very timely as I have just stepped my newly painted mast.
A good pick-up crew from the Sarasota Sailing Squadron assisted me in windy conditions (gusting to 25 knots) and the rig is back in place.
The mast looks great and didn't get scratched during the step.

I had a bronze bushing made for the forestay pin where the hole had worn slightly oblong from the 3/8" spec. I drilled it out to 7/16" and the bushing fits perfectly taking out all the slop and providing an interface between stainless steel and aluminum. I also drilled out the boom tang hole to 5/8" where it had worn oblong from the spec 1/2" and had a bronze bushing made for it as well. Everything tight and back to spec.

I cut out 2" round by 1/32" thick delrin sheet to match the jib sheaves and provide thrust bushings and lower friction interface between the jib sheaves and the aluminum sheave housing. They are very smooth!
I could not fit thrust bushings into the channel for the main halyard sheave as the tolerance there is very tight!

At the masthead is mounted a 15" Windex, anchor light for coastal cruising, and a Squatty Body VHF antenna. I also have a steaming light which is required while motoring at night in coastal waters.

Today, Saturday March 25th, I will finish replacing boom equipment and set the boom in place.

Captain Bill Brooker from Sara-Bay Sailing School and Charter will assist me in mast tuning and I will keep a copy of the newsletter aboard for reference. Bill also has an S2 7.9m which he uses in his school.

With any luck, I should be ready to re-launch Sunday or Monday and actually go for a sail!!

It has been a long process of re-furbishing the mast and boom but a job well done and complete.

[LarryE-old]

Sara,
Sounds like you have it under control.
Would like to see the boat again as yours is the boat that hooked me on the 7.9.