Mizzen mast on Whisper

[Robert The Gray]

As some of you may have read before in another thread I am in the process of adding a mizzen mast to my Triton. I have some photos of the latest progress. My work has been done in the dry moments between a long string of rainy storms flowing across our state from the Pacific. Hello Alaska, my wet friend. We expect the snow melt in May to be immense. Possible flooding in the great central valley. Yosemite will be in full roar on Memorial Day. The local waters will be very brown and full of logs from the forests up stream. Back to the mizzen.
The basic sections of the project:
Split existing mainmast back stay to allow room for the mizzen mast
Relocate existing main sheet track and traveler forward to allow room for mizzen mast
Build mizzen mast step
Build mizzen mast and boom
Build and attach boomkin for mizzen sheet, and mizzen staysail sheet
Step and stay mizzen mast
Build mizzen sail
Build mizzen staysail
Install running rigging for mizzen and mizzen staysail.
Touch up paint.
Go sailing by the end of May.

the location of the work


new chain plates for split main mast back stay. Stock Schaefer with 3/8" pin


I am going to make the mizzen in two sections, with the dividing line about 8" above the after deck. This will allow its removal if I wish to install a wind vane for ocean travel. I will also create a stiffer section and I can then reduce my stays. I will need to fabricate the sleeve that will join the two sections of the mizzen. I will use a scrap of the mast section and cut out the bolt robe channel. This will leave a section with the approximate profile as the full mast. a little polishing and sanding with the belt sander and presto mast sleeve. I will cover this sleeve with some of that thin flexible cutting board material to eliminate corrosion.




the relocation of the main sheet is to eliminate any chance of the traveler car fouling with the mizzen mast. I spoke to our local stainless guy and we came up with a solution. First step is to fabricate a teak mast beam.



More to come in this thread in the weeks ahead. I am learning about taking pictures during construction. It takes some getting used to.

Cheers from out west

r

[Figment]

Fun!

[Tim]

Thanks for documenting the process! I look forward to watching your progress.

[xroyal]

Darn good pictures too. That jpg or whatever format sure saves a lot of scrolling. Thanks

[Robert The Gray]

We have finally had a break on the rain and I have made progress on several fronts. In reviewing the situation with the mainsheet beam I determined that I would need much more room between the traveler and the mizzen mast.
This will not work

I wanted the mainsheet car to be completely free of interference. The initial size of the beam was to narrow. this image shows the track forward of it's original holes, but not far enough forward:


I added a piece to the back of the beam, and made it wider, this would give my the 3.5 inches I needed:

There will be times when there will be a pull on the beam in the forward direction. To take some of that load I let in two schafer tangs under the mainsheet track, in line with one of the mainsheet track attachment bolts. To separate the metals I again used the flexible cutting board material. When installed there will be light bedding.


With one Tang on each side, held by 5/16" bolts there will be some holding of the track from forward pull. I also wanted to make sure that there was enough teak material in front of the bolts to take this forward load. To that end I added a curved cross piece to the central portion.

I like to take oppourtunities in construction to evolve ornament. Like the arts and crafts style. I obtained some red african wood, the name had a lot of vowels, and added a little chip in the center.


The final assembly of mainsheet beam:


Installation on Whisper:



Mizzen mast step

I assempled a piece of teak for the basic mast step, after using some soft redwood as a mock up.

The finished teak step:


after determining the location directly under the opening I sketched out the location of the step:

the first glassing, using adhesive high compression powder, and cloth:

I decided that the step needed a litle tacking into the hull so I cut a "Bat wing Bulkhead"


note the crudely drawn wing marks on the edge of the "batwing" This is of course why it is called a "Batwing Bulkhead", the sun was hot that day I was working with acetone, I try to control myself, I really do....

Next step in the glassing of the mast step: "Batwing Trapped in Amber"
Two layers of cloth.

I have the mainmast back stay made and about to finish the install of those chainplates, the mizzen mast is about made, aI am waiting on some Ronstan mast tangs for the vectran stays. Bulkheads at the winchard u bolts need to be made and I still have no boom.

More to come, every ones work looks amazing.
r

[Tim]

Nice looking work! I look forward to seeing more.

[MQMurphy]

Thanks for the posting of these progress pix, Robert. Fine looking work.
Keep going!

[FloatingMoneyPit]

Love the batwing. After all the rain you guys have had out there this year, anything to keep the spirits up and boatwork mojo on tap is in order.

[Robert The Gray]

recent work on whisper. I have built the boomkin to take the sheets from both the mizzen and the mizzen staysail. To be attached through the deck with 5/16" bolts.



I have since covered the end grain and rounded all the edges with a round over bit. I am waiting on the transom paint to fully install and bed

These are the winchard u bolts I am using as shroud bases. I have some vectran shrouds that I will lash in with no strech small stuff. This is the aft port:


Mast section before with corrosion.

I climbed up through the wet dry sand paper grits 180,220,400,600. did a nice job cleaning up in about 1.5 hours. I will let it patina bare. this is with the mast head welding on, and the uppers tangs attached.

This is an irish coin. I traveled to ireland to trace my roots. my family came from the middle of the island, far from the sea. O'well. I have heard that it is good luck to step the mast on a coin so here it is. I wonder if has to do with the ferry boat man charon, or a new york taxi?



These are the reenforcing bulkheads before their installation. about 1/2" meranti hydra tech.

This is the entrance to the hellpit of contortion. I spent several hours and will have to spend several more twisting my grossly long and angular body through that tiny apeture into the strangled pit of stringy haired rubber glove sucking hole of a lazerette.

this is the first placement of the bulkheads. between them you can see the base of the winchard u bolt. the view is to starboard

this is looking towards the starboard stern before glassing

this is the port stern after the first layer of tabbing i have since cleaned up

this is me captured by the insane-a-cam. I of course have the rudderpost up my keel, and was at that moment viewing the mainmast through the mizzen mast hole with that resinous gleam in my eye. how soon will it end. how soon.

regardless my spirit is good. The day I was doing the hellpit glass adventure it was blowing over thirty just outside the breakwater. Puts you in the appropriate mood for reenforcing. I just ordered harkin carbo blocks for the mizzensheet and the mizzenstaysail sheet from mauriprosailing. good price.
more to come.
r

[Rachel]

Great description! I had a few laughs reading it. Laughing *with you* of course, not at you (perhaps not necessary to mention). :-)

I don't know all of what's behind the placement of a coin under the mast base, but I think part of it was that a copper penny would leach cuprous oxide and therefore help keep rot at bay.

Thanks for the photo-essay,

--- Rachel

[Tim]

Oh yes, very nice: upside down-contorted-enclosed space-hard things poking into back-working with messy and dangerous chemicals photos are the best! Insane-a-cam indeed...

Thanks again for the great documentation, and I hope you've managed to stretch back out by now.

Looks like the worst is over? You must be close to stepping that mast and sailing now.

[dasein668]

Of all the photos ever posted on this forum, this might sum up boat restoration better than any other!

[Curmudgeon]

Of all the photos ever posted on this forum, this might sum up boat restoration better than any other!

Sorry to disagree, but I don't see any bloodletting in that picture. Now I WOULDA had the best picture ever, had I not been so busy trying to stop the bleeding whilst extricating myself from the cubbyhole I was curled up in at the stern... I'm soooo glad it was a freshly sharpened chisel that glanced off the fiberglass and nailed me (pointy end, of course) square in the forehead. Thank goodness I had a mask and gloves on for protection (yep, sarcasm).

[Figment]

The boomkin takes the mizzen staysail sheet? Interesting. I've only ever seen the staysail sheet rigged to the mizzen boom.

This is such a cool project. And admirably photodocumented!

[bcooke]

I don't know all of what's behind the placement of a coin under the mast base...

I think the reasoning was that in the event of a sinking, Neptune would get some cash thereby ensuring safe passage or at least a warmer welcome. I could be totally making this up however...

-Britton

[Robert The Gray]

Figment,
I have secondary winches just aft of the primaries. I will lead the mizzenstaysail sheet from its clew to a block at the end of the mizzen boom, to the block at the corner of the boomkin then to the secondary winch. The mizzenstaysail can generate a good load, so I will need a winch. I would need a turning block of some sort to lead fair to the winch because the boom is above the winch. In choosing to place that turning block at the boomkin I ease some of the load on the mizzen boom and avoid the mizzenstays. It is hard to describe but I hope that is a bit more clear.

r

[Robert The Gray]

the results of more thrashing:

This shows the vectrus shrouds with as of yet inadequate lashing of spectra. I will add more line during the final stepping to acceive the proper tension.

This is the beginning of the rough boom install. I am determining the height of the goose neck.

the bare mizzen before winches and cleats

Hello beef. I fabricated the mount for the winch from some scrap stainless, bent it on a vise, drilled and kinda polished. The second photo shows the seperation of metals with cutting board material and my hand.


the tools for mounting hardware on alluminum spars, the pilot drill and the tap, zip zip presto, hardware on.

the parts and location of the mizzen sheet, harken 40mm carbo blocks, sleeves, There is my hand again. The power went down at the marina yesterday so I could not finish drilling.

mizzen so far. From the top, just out of view, clutch for mizzen staysail, then the jam cleat for the mizzen topping lift, then the mizzenhalyard winch and it's cleat below.


What a web of lines and complication. Each day I wonder about my vision and feel the creeping tendrils of doubt curl their way around the trunk of my confidence, choking my head with the vines of catastrophic images: the stern of the boat ripped off, me standing on the jumper strust waving down a ride after whisper has sunk beneath me. I see, or imagine, the knowing snide glances of the dock side naysayers who have walked by and said "why bother with adding a mast to such a little boat", such folly.

To the members of this forum I send my thanks for your encouraging words. In a shared vision of a romantic notion of sailing let us include that it is not just solving the problems as they are presented in but adding to the measure of grace in this world. Is a plastic classic sailing vessel anything but an anacronism in this age of speed and effeciency? Why don't we all just get our soulless "J" boats now, and join the "fast is fun club" Is there something to be said for thoughtful complication, and an easy slowness? I wonder if anyone told Beethoven or Joyce or Calder (Alexander not Nigel) to "keep it simple stupid". HA!
This is the our tragic author splicing vectrus in his rat like hovel smiling at the curious and contemptous alike.

This concludes our presentation of the traditional rant of the architect against the engineer. Mizzen sail has been ordered from sailrite. Varnish starts today. Epifanes. we bed the stern pulpit after 10 coats on the boomkin. More to come
Blessings upon all

r.

[Tim]

Are you planning a party for when the work is complete? This looks like a LOT of Stoli in your cockpit...

[Robert The Gray]

re:
party in two weeks
Whisper sets her mizzen!
"we hope", said the man with the lovely wife....
We will have mostly beer and salami, I suppose!
The stoli box is the epoxy storage box, salvage from dumpster at the yard.

r.

[FloatingMoneyPit]

it is not just solving the problems as they are presented in but adding to the measure of grace in this world. Is a plastic classic sailing vessel anything but an anacronism in this age of speed and effeciency? Why don't we all just get our soulless "J" boats now, and join the "fast is fun club" Is there something to be said for thoughtful complication, and an easy slowness? I wonder if anyone told Beethoven or Joyce or Calder (Alexander not Nigel) to "keep it simple stupid". HA!

Amen to that, Brother!
I could have been cruising 2 years ago with a bigger pile of money in the bank if I did things the easy way. As it is I've cut occasional small corners here and there, but I've done so many time-consuming, hair-pulling-outing, expensive, not necessarily critical projects just because I know I can and the boat warrants it. At the end of the day, I can walk down the marina docks and see few boats as well cared for as my own*. The rare exceptions are much newer yachts that cost a fortune, which are rarely sailed anyway. We've saved our boats from wasting away in junkyards, or at least greatly postponed it, and I think there's a lot to be said for that.

Keep up the good work. Mizzen = more lines to pull = more sailing fun!

*It's a real morale booster to be in a marina which is 70% old Bayliners! Except when your fenders are stolen.

[Figment]

*It's a real morale booster to be in a marina which is 70% old Bayliners! Except when your fenders are stolen.

I hear that. I'll have to post a pic of my dock sometime. I'll wait until most of them get off their lazy duffs and LAUNCH, though.

[Tim]

Except when your fenders are stolen.

Wouldn't it be easy to find them, though? I mean, isn't it the law that Bayliners have to use those mermaid boat fenders? I think they're permanently attached to the hull.

So just look for the one Bayliner with regular fenders, and you've found your purloined possessions!

[xroyal]

Robert,

Congrats on your sticktoitness! A symphony of lines. Love to see her under sail.

Speaking of Bayliners, how could any living soul take this pregnant whale over a Pearson? Heard the designer was maybe 6'4", and designed a boat to fit over him. But honey, it's got a shower, groan.

[FloatingMoneyPit]

Actually, one of those sweethearts is drydocked right next to my boat. The owner is just about done repainting it. He nearly got into a fistfight with some unfortunate souls who happened to park next to the boat. The Rust-o-leum spray paint he was using misted onto their cars. Ah, Brooklyn.

[rshowarth]

I beleive there is a word which describes sailing with just the mizzen and the jib or foresail. I think it is used for sailing in a storm.

Can someone tell me the word?

[Tim]

I beleive there is a word which describes sailing with just the mizzen and the jib or foresail. I think it is used for sailing in a storm.

There may be another term, but you'll often hear this combination referred to as "jib and jigger".

[rshowarth]

Tim-

Thanks

[Robert The Gray]

recent photos:

I am begining here to lay out the deck mounted box. I have never built a box using the rabit technology so this seemed like a good oppourtunity. I will be using solid teak for the corners and teak plywood for the sides and meranti plywood for the bottom and top. I got to use some of my basic geometry and divide the angle by using a compass.



the rabit technology:


Basic box with teak sides.

This is the lid and the can of spray paint I am using to paint. I have since learned that this paint did not work so well.

The painted top shown at a distance. why at a distance? I have no idea.

finished deck box mounted on the stern. While I like and respect the idea of cutting a hole down into the lazerette like on Glissando and Daesien I was afraid to cut any more holes in my boat.

details of mounting:



I built the mizzen from a sailrite kit. It was a blast. I have the mizzenstaysail on order and can't wait to get it done.


the instrument of sailmaking. That is the price of purchace. $35.00.
It was just like driving a fourwheel drive. get her moving and don't stop.

She sets fine:

Mizzen sheet system using amsteel connections.

vectrus boomkin stays below that hold the mizzen staysail sheet blocks, mizzen sheet above. harken carbo blocks. 40mm for the mizzen sheet, 50mm for the mizzenstaysail sheet.


Only a few more coats of epifanes on the deck box and we will be beginning the sail trials. splash splash. I hope it is not back to the drawing board but I feel confident in the work.

Cheers all,
R

[Tim]

Looking good, Robert! Bet you can't wait to try her out under sail...

[Rachel]

Sure does look nice, Robert! Like Tim says, I bet you can't wait to get out sailing :-)

Thanks so much for taking the time to photo-document and post it here. Seeing you make those corner posts on your deck box reminded me that I've always wanted to try that.

Can't wait to see photo(s) of her under sail.

--- Rachel

[dasein668]

Nice looking box!

[Figment]

That's a very nice piece of work. Can't wait to see the mizzen staysail fly!

[Robert The Gray]

We sail! The mizzzen works great. no creaking in any bad places. The mizzen is quite small but seemed to push me a bit off the wind. I was able to take it up to a good close reach in 15 knots with one reef in the main. After that it was just like a flag. I am remembering how to sail a yawl. I wish I had the miz stysl but not yet, I expect any day and will work through the night to finish it. I was able to practice my yawl anchoring technique which is to drop the main and sail into the anchorage under jib and jigger. when I am just to leeward of the "spot" I drop the jib and wait till all the weigh is off and then drop the hook, the mizzen helps me back down and doesn't fling me like the big main does.



The sail itself. Existing solitary, as if alone on it's own spar, but it is stayed to a common deck. The mizzen and main follow each other like mother and daughter duck on the flat calm surface of a lake, I sit like a gangly fish caught in the center eddie of their passage This is of course absurd and only mildly poetic. I have no idea what it has to do with sailing. Sorry, this damn keyboard has been drinking again.

With the city of San Francisco in the far background surrrounded in fog, and Treasure Island in the foreground, I sail north back to Berkeley. It was so nice to be out on the water. The sky, the fog, the salty wind, and the speaking of the sea made all the work worth while. It is good to make a sound boat.

This shows how the mizzen sheets are lead to cam cleats on each side of the deck box. thanks to all for your encouragement and the "atta boys". I have only one more post on this thread when the miz stysl flys. see you then!

R

[Rachel]

Cool! :-)

[MQMurphy]

Bravo!