Equipping the mast
Weather forecast promised a few fine-weather hours in the morning so I woke up early and started working.
Louve got rolled out from the shed to step the mast for a first time. Dry fit, really, as the mast foot is not installed yet. I wanted to check if my mast is crooked on any side, so that I have a chance to rotate it (and pretend that this was intended) before I cut mast foot tenon and halyard mortise.
Well, it is straight at all angles so I chose glue line to face forward, thus making measurements easier for cutting mortises.
With fair weather I set up jig to cut halyard sheave mortise.
Sheave axle hole 140 mm from the mast top, as stated on plans.
I shaped the mortise with rasp and files. It is so wide to accommodate two 9mm plywood plates, preventing the axle from splitting the wood. I may add brass mast-top strop, to inhibit this splitting force even more.
Maybe.
Belt and suspenders - you never know what happens…
Time to cut tenon for mast foot. Marking the cut.
Trying with the mast foot - snug fit, perfect! The foot can finally be screwed to the boat.
Last job for today was to shape and glue plywood plates which reinforce the mortise. I use an off-cut from the same plywood the whole boat is made of: 9mm. Glued with WEST G-Flex.