Doyle Sailmakers Inc.
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8
INSTALLING UPPER PAD EYES
Pad eyes are most easily installed at the mast head before the mast is stepped. If this
cannot be done, it is necessary to send someone aloft in a bosun's chair. Upper pad eyes
should be located 45% down from the mast head, on opposite sides of the mast, just
behind the shroud tangs. (See Figure 2a) DO NOT INSTALL PAD EYES ON THE AFT PORTION
OF THE MAST, NEAR THE MAST TRACK. If located on this aft section, the pad eyes will
position the lazy jacks in such a way that they will snag the sail when it is hoisted. Do not
locate pad eyes in any position where the lazy jacks will cross a shroud, a piece of
hardware, or any other equipment.
NOTE: It is always more important to keep pad eyes, lazy jacks, and other StackPack
rigging clear of other gear than to install them in any specifically defined location. Once you
have determined the best location of your pad eyes, hold them against the mast and mark
the holes with a felt tip marker. Drill one hole, tap it, insert screw, and secure pad eye
before drilling second hole. Drill the holes with an 11/64" bit and an electric drill (a portable
drill is really handy here if you are at the top of the mast!) Carefully, tap the holes with the
10 x 24 thread tap and wrench.
HINT: To produce clean threading, do not use complete turns in threading the hole. Turn
the tap clockwise one half turn to cut the thread, then back it very slightly (less than 1/8th
of a turn) counterclockwise to break and to release the cut metal. Approximately six
complete clockwise turns should thread each hole.
Align pad eyes over the threaded hole. Screw the bolts into the mast. Turn the bolts as
hard as possible by hand.
INSTALLING LOWER PAD EYES
To determine the position of lower pad eyes on the mast, (See Figure 2b), measure up from
the gooseneck approximately 15% of the mainsail luff length, i.e., 15% of the distance
between the black bands. The same rules for lateral placement of pad eyes apply to lower
and upper eyes.
Install lower pad eyes using same tapping and threading technique as used for upper pad
eyes.
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