Dart 15 Forums

Graham Shrimpton wrote:

Hi all, got these instructions from Mr Gadget yesterday.


Mr Gadget - mast anti theft device.

As everything in the Mr gadget range this item is cheap and easy to make.

Materials

1 Eye Bolt (preferable stainless steel but a B&Q zinc plated one will do) same diameter as your mast pin, 6 or 8mm I think.

1 length of thick chain (just long enough to go round the base of the mast)

1 Padlock

Making lock

First of all you must bend out the loop in your eyebolt just enough to take the thickness of your chain, insert the centre loop of your chain through the eyebolt and squeeze up (try using a vice).

Fitting device

Turn your mast 90 Deg, insert eye bolt in hole locking mast in the 90 deg position. Wrap chain around mast and padlock ends together

That?s it

All the best

Graham
Sprint 1595

Duncan Ford replied:

Graham - That sounds a great idea. I always understood, though, that you shouldn't leave the mast pin in for long periods as the stainless steel reacts with the mast foot alloy and erodes it. If true, the same would apply to a stainless eye bolt.

I leave my mast in the 90 degree position in the boat park as it reduces wear on the shrouds, but use a 6inch nail wrapped in insulating tape. It may be safer to wrap your eye bolt in tape as well. Good tip though and I will adapt it to lock my mast. Thanks.

Duncan(Sprint 1973)

Graham Shrimpton replied:

Hi Duncan

Good point - thinking on i might try using some heat shrink sleaving - if it still fits through the hole!

Regards

Graham