mast shoe ('heel'?) for E-25??

[briangsmith]

i seem to have a crack running part way through
the thin (lead?) 'shoe', or 'heel,' on the bottom of
my E-25 mast- also a motley selection of various-
size screws (some stainless, others obviously not)
holding the thing on-

anybody have a source for replacement for this?
i'm not sure how critical this piece is, in terms of
rig strength- more than anything it just seems to
be a cover for the hole that would otherwise be at
the bottom of the aluminum spar...

thoughts??

 

[Bob in Va]

Shoe

I believe this piece is just to protect anything under it if the mast is raised using a gin pole. It is not so much necessary to seal off the bottom of the mast as it is to keep it from digging in or bearing on a single point as it rotates up. You can probably make a replacement for it that will look better and work well, if necessary.

 

[briangsmith]

thanks bob, that's sort of what i came to as well..
at least, that's all i could figure, as it certainly isn't
structurally supportive..

bgs

 

[rssailor]

Mast base insert

Brian,
Does your mast have a sloped cutout in the front? Do you lower your rig forward? If so, the insert in the base of the mast is critical. It will prevent the edges of the mast from crusing in under compression. Moonglow had this problem after I bought the boat and started sailing. There was no insert and the sides of the mast started to crush inward. Had to have the bottom twelve inches of my rig replaced with a new mast section that was welded on and reinforced. I made a new insert out of .5" delrin.
Bottom line is, that if you take out the old insert, put in a new one the same as the old. Ryan Moonglow E 25+

 

[briangsmith]

thanks ryan- yep, sounds like the same configuration-
she's sound.. for now.. i'll keep an eye on it tho, end of
the season.. possibly build a new one over the winter for
next year's 'peace of mind'~

how's that E-25 + in heavy weather? to wind?? what are
the key differences between the E-25+ and my E-25 center-
board??

bgs