Mast band with flange - 6, 8, 10 or 12 mm Ø
Details
Mast band with flange, for attaching forestay, glass filled plastic - for 6, 8, 10 or 12 mm Ø mast.
The 8 mm and 10 mm Ø versions are drilled 2.3 mm Ø (1.5 mm for 6 mm Ø) to accept a shackle ref. 44-030 and intended to be used to spread the forestay attachment away from the mast a little when used with a pocket luff mainsail to stop the forestay and topping lift from fouling on the luff pocket. The hole is spaced away from the mast so the band should be placed about 25 mm lower than the measured height of the forestay limit mark. Part of our standard shroudless rig kit when used with pocket luff sails.
Use the 6 mm or 8 mm size for 65 Class, 8 mm size for US1M and 10 mm size for Marblehead, Ten Rater and other similar size boats. Some rigs for M and 10R are specified with 12 mm Ø upper mast tube where the 12 mm size will be ideal.
As used in SAILSetc rig kits.
Why not just drill a hole in the mast for the forestay attachment?
A hole drilled in the mast is the simple alternative to using this mast band but there are some distinct problems with that. A hole drilled for a forestay hook has several disadvantages – it weakens the mast at the point of peak bending moment - the load of the forestay applied to un-reinforced carbon tube may be enough to pull down the fibres of the tube or even split it - reinforcing the tube against splitting by wrapping with carbon tow is necessary if you do this. The advantage of using the mast band are – avoids weakening the mast at the point of peak bending moment - avoids having to wrap the mast with carbon tow - keeps the forestay and topping lift clear of the luff of a pocket luff mainsail so that it can rotate freely around the mast.
The item is NOT suitable for use as a boom band.
056-060, 056-080, 056-100, 056-120.