Question was how to stop a freestanding mast from falling out on a small sailboat?
It is possible for the mast to fall out – but why doesn’t it happen?
It happens extremely rarely that a freestanding mast comes unshipped.
Normally the halyard tension holds the mast in place. This is usually a considerable force, particularly with lug rigs.
If the sail has to be dropped then that tension is gone. One way to keep the tension is to detach the halyard from the sail and tie it off to some point on the boat – like the downhaul loop and then tighten up the other end of the halyard in the normal way.
The mast doesn’t usually come out even when the sail is dropped during the capsize – There is quite a bit of friction normally. That normal heave/jerk/pull we have to do to get the mast out after a day’s sailing indicates the load that keeps it in place.
So even if it is unlikely for the mast to come out … how to eliminate the possibility?
George Isted was the chap that raced the GIS against more “normal” boats on a weekly basis in Portsmouth UK last year resolving into a Portsmouth yardstick of 1117.
George was planning on some distance events including RAIDs. Having the mast pop out in a capsize or if the sail needs to be dropped while capsized is quite an unpleasant idea.
So George has a neat fix.
It can be on any side of the mast not cluttered by downhauls and halyards. a simple lanyard through the mast partner with a knot on both ends, one end under the deck.
The cleat is a Clamcleat CL212. Available in black or white and left or right handed (doesn’t make much difference for this function.
Available through Duckworks or Sailrite and many online and non-virtual chandleries and sailmakers.
