Carbon mast fittings

[Ian Loveday]

I want to fit a cleat for a topping lift on my Bayraider's mast, the mast is carbon so do I need special fittings or is a couple of self tapping screws going to do the job?

[Graham W]

If you drill holes into the mast one size down from the screw size, self tappers and a small blob of Sikaflex sealant on the tip of each one should be fine.  However, see this http://www.swallowyachtsassociation.org/smf/index.php/topic,445.msg2550.html#msg2550

[Ian Loveday]

Thanks Graham i'll give that a try

[Guy Rossey]

Ian and Graham, I had the same problem and screwed a U bolt through the mizzen as on the picture:

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Catchando Bay (BR20 #48)

[Andy Dingle]

Interesting Guy..

On two occasions now I have had the cleat screwed to my CF gaff spar that holds the main halyard onto it pull out in strong winds - first time admittedly was my mistake for not securing it properly. But I've been given it a lot of thought on how to make it better and stronger and fitting a U bold like this would seem to be ideal solution.

Many thanks

Andy

[Julian Swindell]

I would be a bit concerned with the U bolt solution, because you now have four relatively large bolt holes in the wall of the mast in a small area rather than just two smaller screw holes. There might also be a risk of crushing the mast if the nuts were over tightened. The tack of my mizzen is just tied to a simple screwed on eye, and it doesn't seem to be too stressed. The pull on it is just straight up and down the mast to keep the leach taut(ish). I did once screw a cheek block onto the mizzen for the sprit snotter to run through. It ripped off at the first gybe and I went back to a rope loop tightly seized around the mast, which has never moved at all. I'm getting more into soft rope/line fittings rather than hardware.

[Graham W]

To secure my main halyard to the yard, I have a hole drilled straight through the yard. See this thread http://www.swallowyachtsassociation.org/smf/index.php/topic,536.0.html

[Jim Levang]

We rigged our carbon fiber mast primarily (exclusively?) with aircraft grade stainless steel rivets. Screws strike me as sketchy at best.