I have a prindle 16 #7 off the shelf the early prindle's dont have a hinge setup. it takes 3 people to raise mast
from what i have been told i need to replace the bottom of the mast with a 16 or 18 prindle mast (looking for bent mast) that has hinge setup and replace front cross tube that has hinge set-up

any one have another ez way to do this? or how did you solve this problem

We need to see pictures of the your mast base, something is very wrong.

Ya Pictures would help. I'm not an expert by any means and for my Family the mast can be a real bugger on my Prindle 18 but I can't imagine doing it without some sort of step hinge. Mine is tricky enough with the hinge( My casting is broken through on the the holes for the hinge closest to the mast and has been jury rigged a bit but seems to work ok.) but I'm getting better at it.

having probs w/ uploading pics will get them up asap

i can not log in for some reason in photo gallay
no matter what i do it says cant log in..
not sure why hopefully it will be fixed so i can upload pics

Lay mast on tramp with foot pointing out between bows.
Attach shrouds and forestay with forestay bridle OVER mast
Stand on tramp and stand mast up on GROUND in front of beam
Lift mast straight up and onto socket on front beam.

If mast starts to topple whilst lifting, don't worry, keep on lifting - rigging will tighten.

make sure that shouds are set loose

You don't go to the photo gallery. You add the photos directly to your post. Under the box in which you type your message, you will see "File Manager." Click on that and follow the steps to add any picture that is located on your computer (as long as it is not too large).

Here are some pics hope fully this will help

A newer style mast base and drill a hole in those two ears on the step will solve your problem I think. You'll also need a step link. This is the Hobie one, the P one is a bit different, but the same idea.

newer models look like this.

pictures on the right side



http://www.performancecat.com/prindle/pdffiles/PrindleParts2005.pdf

Good Luck

parts manual can be found at site above

not enough room on ears to drill 2 hole's maybe 1 but not 2..

I would just use a piece of non-stretch line to secure the bottom of the mast to the mast step, so it can't go anywhere while you are raising the mast and somebody holds the bottom of the mast in position to seat on the step. We have had to do this occasionally with various boats.

yeah one person holds bottom mast and we walk it up. just seeing if ez'r way

ok if i buy the spare at at Murrays or where ever... i need to take old mast base and mast step casting off and re-rivet new one on?

base $30 mast step $56 hing $18 =$104 i dont mend spending that if this is what it takes

More than likely you will also have to change the dolphin striker bar as well. I doubt that you will ever be able to unscrew it from the mast base on the front cross bar. I have used pipe wrenchs before to no avail, also there is a screw that is underneath holding the rod and bar together. It would be easier to get a used complete front crossbar and change it out, just 4 bolts.

i just picked up a 18ft prindle crossbeam w/ the right hitch setup for $50 what a steal!! I offred the guy $25 and he said alot of bad words but a got 1.part of project done
next step 1. get hinge bracket drill whole in mast(where mast )hinge eye is going to be)put a tubing inside mast for suport and weld tubing to mast and hopefully thats it....

new cross beam is on and mast attached to hinge going to raise mast today and see how it is with out step up.

thanks for everyones help w/prob.

Hi SD,

Any luck? I just bought a P16 a couple months ago and so far have always sailed it solo. I "raise" the mast with the cat laying on its side. I don't even use the hinge steps.

I flip the cat on its side and use my righting line tied to my car (or tree) to hold it in place so it's leaning just beyond its tipping point. It's tipped at just the right angle which allows the mast tip to rest on the ground when the mast is perpendicular to the front crossbar when the casting is placed on the half-ball.

I place the mast and all attached rigging on the ground. I then pick up and place the mast's casting onto the half-ball. Pushing the mast forward along the ground tightens the shrouds and holds the mast on the half-ball while you attach the forestay. That's it.

Pull on the righting line to start raising the boat back upright. When the mast is off of and parallel to the ground double check that it is secure and all rigging is clean. When satisfied continue flipping boat back over.

I knew I'd be sailing solo a lot so I looked into all sorts of creative gin pole contraptions and such for raising the mast. Just tip it on its side and plug the mast in.

By the way, does the SD stand for San Diego? I'm from Utah but have been sailing at Mission Bay much of this winter. If you're in San Diego let me know.

Have fun,
Matt

Wow Mat, That's an ingenious way of doing it.

I've sailed solo, on 18 and 20 ft cats, rigged them myself, etc. But I always got a passer-by to do the tip of the mast thing while I lifted it, stern to the wind so I could even do the forestay.

But, if you don't have anybody willing, or anybody, then I'm going to remeber your methods, just in case.