DIY Quiz Answered

Last week, Ernest Galvan sent us this photo, promoting a pop DIY quiz:

Lots of you were up to the challenge: "It’s the bottom of a deck stepped mast," wrote Carroll Skov. "The step needs the hole redrilled and a larger safety bolt installed," she added.

"Someone has the masthead truck off (or whatever they call the plug that goes in the top of the mast that holds the halyard sheaves and all the stuff on top), and wrapped it with red tape to try and get it to stop rattling," wrote Bill Nork. "Judging by the elongated screw hole, it’s probably making quite a racket!"

"Looks to me like a masthead fitting, although it could be from the end of a very large boom," said Bill Schilling. "The latter thought is supported by the fact the something hit it, although I suppose that a masthead fitting could be damaged like this if the boat was dismasted," he added.

"Casting end cap for a boom," wrote Alan Prussia, who was getting warmer. "I think it is the end of someone’s boom," wrote Tony Spooner. Thanks to everyone for playing (when we first saw the photo, we thought it was obviously a masthead fitting). Here’s the answer key from Mr. Galvan:

"I think this failure is is common to many boats of this vintage, a 1980s Ericson. The repair went fine, and I even got to test it in Saturday’s [May 12’s] gale, the perfect DIY day. Tapping new mounting holes in the garage in the a.m. and burying the lee rail next to Angel Island in the p.m."

And finally, a picture of the finished DIY product.

Do you like to DIY? Let us know!