Andy, all you're doing is moving the center of effort 1" or so forward of its older position, so you're making a slight change to the balance at the helm. Are you saying the mast plate has to move forward in order to mate with the old mounting holes? You know, you might be able to just have new holes drilled in the mounting plate to get the plate into the same position as the old mast plate. You might want to measure a similar recent C-27 from the aft lip of the hatch to the mast to make sure you're in the same place. Or maybe you could use a little less weather helm anyway. Since I'm not racing, I wouldn't worry about it myself, but you may feel more inclined to meet any technical specs for C-27s.
An alternative, if you want to maintain the old CE with the new mast step in a different position, is to slightly shim the forward lip of the mast step. Let's say you added just 1/32" to the forelip; that would angle the mast back so that the center of the mast's height is back about 1", which pretty much puts your center of effort back where it was. 1/32" is pretty darn small. You should have a silver coin under your mast for good luck anyway; you could use a Canadian Bluenose Schooner dime, bury the whole works in some thickened epoxy syrup so the mast step would be resting on a solid surface after the epoxy hardened, and you'd probably never notice the difference. But I doubt you'd notice anyway. Best of luck, Dave Shaddock From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, May 30, 2008 3:58 PM To: [email protected] Subject: catalina27-talk: Re: Mast Location Question I am in the process of adding a new Mast-Step Halyard plate to my boat This includes adding a stationary Mast Step. I am removing the Hinged Mast Step that is on the boat now. I never used the hinged mast Plate to lower the mast (my mast stays up for winter storage) and also, Now for my question: The new Mast Step Plate sits about an inch or so further forward then the old hinged mast plate. This would mean that the Mast would sit about an inch or so further forward then it is now. Would this small distance make any difference? I am having all of the shrouds and the roller-furling changed and the mast is already down Slow "MO" tion fell off of her stands and sustained damage during the winter, so changing this plate is a minor repair while the mast is down. Thanks Andy Slow "MO" tion #6038 Nyack, NY _____ Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch <http://food.aol.com/tyler-florence?video=4&?NCID=aolfod00030000000002> "Cooking with Tyler Florence" on AOL Food.
