mast crane [R38]: A device at the top of the mast to which assorted items attach such as the backstay.
Mast cranes are available for one design model yachts, i.e. CR914, DF65, DF95, IOM, Victoria, etc. We are only aware of one company, Model Yacht Fittings, making mast cranes for vintage model yachts.
They are fairly easy to make, so making one may be a viable option for you. Two examples are shown. Both are epoxied and pinned into the mast head. The crane on the Marblehead has been made to accommodate a forestay although one was not installed on this boat.
Sources
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Related Articles
- TMY Editorial Staff. “Tee-Shaped Brass for Various Fittings.” The Model Yacht. 24:2. Summer 2023.
- These Tees can be used for making a shroud rack, mast step, mast crane, backstay bracket, and other fittings.
- “Making Parts from Tee-Shaped Brass.” usvmyg.org, June 2026.
- This is a “How to” article that describes how to make a jib rack, shroud racks, and your backstay bracket along with other fittings you will need to rig your boat.
