Mast on the R21EC

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J

JustUs2

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Mar 2, 2015
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Fluid Motion Model
C-24 C
Hello
Can you tell me what is under the raised fiberglass cover on top of the wheelhouse that the mast is bolted to. The screws keep getting loose with the side to side sway of the boat. If it was not for the two wires securing it the mast would have flew off some time ago.Even with the wires on it still gets loose at all the screws which keeps enlarging the screw holes. Can I remove that cover and bolt the mast directly to the roof of the wheelhouse? Any suggestions would be helpful.

Another quick question i have a disability and find it hard to walk around the side to drop the anchor. Does Ranger have a windlass for this boat or can you direct me to someone that makes one to function on this vessel.

Thank You Artie
 
My tug is still in storage, but I think the mast is bolted through the pilothouse.

I have a horizontal Lewmar Pro-series windlass on my 21EC and am currently building a new teak platform which will be 2" higher allowing the chain to extend horizontally towards the bow roller. I have a rocker switch in the pilothouse and foot switches mounted on the teak platform. The links below show a horizontal and a vertical windlass on a 21EC.

gallery2.php?g2_itemId=36562
gallery2.php?g2_itemId=24960
 
Hello Artie,

When you store your mast, does it fold forward or to the side?

Are you saying that even with the two thumb screws tight, the mast is wobbly?

I've had the center ceiling panel down and there are NO through bolts. Yet my mast is solid even without the wires attached.

Hopefully the factory will give you input on how best to fix your mast.

Dave
 
Hello Dave
Thanks for your commits, my mast folds forward. If you take a look at IMG 2097 Raising The Spotlight that you posted I think that will clear up what I am trying to explain about it being mounted onto a raised cover on top of the wheelhouse. The sides of the cover are screwed into a lip and through neglect from the previous owner all the screws enlarged the holes as the mast rocked from side to side and now can't be tightened.

Rather then remove the mast I think i will just install new screws along both sides of the cover. This should work out fine being you said that yours is solid even without the wires. I don't know why they just did not mount the mast to the wheelhouse roof.

Artie
 
I experienced the loose screw issue on my 06 EC21 also but for a different reason. My mast folds to the side and the previous owner's boat yard caught the folded down on something while moving the boat into storage several years ago. It bent the stainless steel hinged base of the mast. cracked some fiberglas around the mounting screws and loosened some screws. I straightened the stainless steel base plate and later temporarily removed the mast and fiberglas smoke stack/ raised cover to install through wiring for my Garmin radar. That cover serves as a conduit or cover for many roof mounted wires (horn, spotlight,mast head light) that eventually go through the pilot house roof into the cabin. I also noted that there must be a plywood / fiberglas strengthening sandwich built into the pilot house roof for those "cover" attachment screws. So... in my opinion, sealing those "cover" screws / screw holes into the pilot house roof is critical to eliminate possible water intrusion that will eventually cause rot and soft spots of the encapsulated plywood. It is a very good design but loose screws need owner attention and possible maintenance to avoid future deck issues.
 
Hello Artie,

To further maintain a "solid" mast once you effect the repair/replacement of the screws, I would ensure the two securing wires are snug - not necessarily TIGHT, but snug enough that when secured the mast CAN'T wobble side-to-side.

On my boat, I can easily secure the first side, then when moving to the other side, I usually need to pull on the mast to allow connecting the "other" side. Anyway, if there is play in the "secured" mast, I can see where that would tend to work the securing screws loose. Once you adjust the securing wires to the proper length, be sure to jam the top nut down on the turnbuckle arrangement or it will work itself loose.

Fair winds and masts that don't wobble,

david
 
Hello Justus2, I had an issue with a dark stain coming from under the mast step coaming..... the stain was coming from water getting into the plywood stiffening sandwich through the mast mounting screws.. I removed the side screws and verified the "sandwich" was not rotted and reset (bedded) the mast mounting bolts with clear silicone .... leak solved. Be careful that the wire runs in the faring are properly taped in place when you replace the coaming so that nothing gets pinched or punctured with a screw. If you have a problem with the coaming side screws you might step up one or two sizes of torque screw but be careful not to increase the length too much. I also bedded all the side screws with silicone as I reset them. I agree with Dave that the mast movement can be eliminated by snugging up mast standing rigging and ensuring that the base plate thumbscrews are tight. Good luck wit your project ..... as you get into projects such as this you will see just how well built these little tugs are ..... lots of good engineering and materials 🙂 Fran Uteg
 
:lol: I would like to thank everyone that submitted answeres to my questions. I resolved the problem and hope to have smooth sailing from here on.
Artie
 
As your concern has been addressed I will jump in and ask a R21EC mast question too. On the new R21EC we just purchased, the mast has rust on it. Not just a surface discolouration but a "bubbling" area of rust. Has anyone else experienced this? Seems a pain to have it stripped and re-chromed every few years. Wonder how much a stainless mast would cost to have built?
 
It is supposed to be a Stainless Steel mast...
 
hmmmmmm..... :?
 
Mine is stainless, at least not magnetic, not sure of the grade.
 
sheral":30piw5o4 said:
As your concern has been addressed I will jump in and ask a R21EC mast question too. On the new R21EC we just purchased, the mast has rust on it. Not just a surface discolouration but a "bubbling" area of rust. Has anyone else experienced this? Seems a pain to have it stripped and re-chromed every few years. Wonder how much a stainless mast would cost to have built?
Click to expand...

Hello Sheral,

If you acquired your tug from a dealer then ask them about your situation. If your tug is indeed "new" then rust may be a warranty issue.

My 21EC mast appears to be welded stainless steel. I drilled holes in the upper pedestal to relocate the spot light and it is indeed HARD metal. No signs of rust or any discoloration anywhere on mine.

WHERE are the 'bubbles' to which you refer? Could they be imperfections in a welded seam? Finally, see if a magnet is attracted to the metal in your mast; stainless steel is VERY weakly magnetic; for practical purposes NON Magnetic.

dave
 
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