mast modifications

The mast lying on saw horses aside C'est la Vie is a sad sight, but the situation does offer a opportunity to make some repairs and modifications that have long resided on our to do list.

First: Replace the mast head sheaves, run the halyards internal on the mast, and add additional halyards:

Before:

Originally the mast had two halyard sheaves that accommodated a main and foresail halyard.  These sheaves used the through bolt, visible in the center of the mast just above the white coaxial cable, as an axle. (see image above)  This allowed C'est la Vie's rig to run two external halyards.  Our addition of a roller furled head sail and a removable inner stay for the storm jib will require two fore halyards. To accomplish this we will add additional sheaves and reroute the halyards inside the mast.  The new system will provide two fore halyards and two aft halyards.

The original sheaves are the large wheels in the lower portion of the image. The four new Harken sheaves are above the originals (three of which are still wrapped in plastic.)  Paul from Omar Sails cut the exit slots and installed exit plates on the lower mast.  He also located and drilled holes on the forward and aft side of the mast for the bolts that act as axles for the new sheaves.   The two sheaves that occupy each axle are separated by a shim.  The shim, visible between the two halyards in the image below, runs fore to aft and is anchored in place by the axle bolts.  The shim prevents the sheaves from sliding side to side and prevents the halyards from slipping off the sheaves and becoming entangled.

After:

Secondly:  Improve the attachment of the spreaders:

Before:

C'est la Vie's aluminum spreaders are not original to the vessel.  1960 vintage Morgans were equipped with wooded spreaders.  When we purchased C'est la Vie she came equipped with aluminum spreaders.  These are a nice improvement, but were poorly attached to the mast.  In rough seas the spreaders would swing fore and aft.  We discovered that two 1/4" bolts fit into 5/16" compression tubes were used to attach the spreaders.

We added a 3/8" bolt to the center of the assembly and enlarged the outer two bolts to 5/16".  These modifications eliminated the play in the spreaders.

After:

We are closing in on re-stepping the mast.  Below is the long view of our progress...