Where do gin poles attach? On the casting or mast? Will they dent a mast?

I am making my own. Does the pole connector need to be rigid or can it have a pinned connection to let it float a bit due to line strech?

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John

Nacra 5.0
CT
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This is how my ez-step attached




I don't know what you are referring to with the pole connector

I build a gin pole by covering the mast with plastic to protect it from epoxy, then a layer of peel ply and then layers of carbon formed around the mast and a windsurf mast at 90 degree angle for gin pole. This created a perfectly formed cradle around the mast so no drilling into to the carbon Bimare mast (36'+ which solo was a bear). Video below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4cLtC26aRM&list=PLSVBzactXNXskhZqTMJ4Eik4eZ-EGAr5J&index=40&t=0s

Forming around mast is a great idea. About how wide is The contact pad?

The mast needs to go up sideways and that ought to help.

Do EZ steps ever dent the masts?

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John

Nacra 5.0
CT
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Forming around mast is a great idea. About how wide is The contact pad?

The mast needs to go up sideways and that ought to help.

Do EZ steps ever dent the masts?

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John

Nacra 5.0
CT
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John, From others results I'd recommend a 4" tall pad lined with some weatherstripping that fits your profile. You can layer some wood that is cut to fit. Like this fella https://www.thebeachcats.…beff5126040f06427cff4ed3.

To piggy back on your topic, On a non-captive mast base like my N5.0, will a gin pole still work? Seems like I can raise the mast straight (not turned) as long as I make sure its on the ball at the initial loading. The gin pole will be putting a lot of down force (in our case shear) on the ball connection. I think I may need to do a free body diagram on this one.

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FYC, Nacra 5.2 "Chris's Flyer" & Nacra Playcat & Farrier Tramp
Previously owned: Trac 14, H14, H16, H18, N5.0, G-cat 5.0
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Thanks for the link. My base is captive.

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John

Nacra 5.0
CT
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Quote

Do EZ steps ever dent the masts?

never dented my h18 - i used it a dozen times or so
i never heard of it denting my friends supercat19

didn't dent my friends h21 a few weeks ago when i watched him use it (poorly)
he had modified it for some reason and it wasn't working well for him

Thanks for report, makes sense that Hobie wouldn't sell them if they did. Just double checking.

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John

Nacra 5.0
CT
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that being said: it is a fair question.

masts sure do dent easily (i do more damage to my masts moving them around my yard than in 20 years of beachcat sailing)

my experience with them is limited to a dozen or so:
you can probably get a lot more feedback if you ask that on the hobie forums.