Abstract: The mast of a sailboat is provided with a base casting rigidly secured to the bottom of the mast. A hinge member in the form of a socket is pivotally mounted to the rear of the mast base casting. The socket is adapted to fit over a rounded bearing pad of low friction material mounted to the top of a mast step which is secured to the hull or to a cross bar in the case of a catamaran. The hinge member and mast step are provided with transverse bores. When the mast is in a lowered position, the hinge member is swung forwardly from the mast base and over the bearing pad until the transverse bores are aligned. A pin is placed in the aligned bores to temporarily couple the hinge member to the mast step so that the mast can be raised and secured while the hinge member and mast step are coupled together. After the mast is secured, the pin is removed from the bores to permit the mast to rotate and to rake freely under operating conditions.

Abstract: A sailboat traveler apparatus with bearings having a circular cross section at their pivots which are received in a track with a circular cross section with the traveler carriage being pivotal about the centerline of the track so that pivoting forces on the carriage remain transferred to the bearing surfaces of the bearings and track without binding. The bearings may be spherical or cylindrical depending upon the desired friction between bearing and track.

Abstract: A halyard line extends over a pulley at the top of a mast and is connected to the head of the mainsail by a ring connector. Beneath the pulley, a hook plate with a pivoting pawl is secured to the mast. When the halyard line is pulled, the sail is raised, and the shackle engages the pawl and forces it upwardly thereby exposing the catch of the hook plate so that the ring will be seated in the catch and held by the hook plate. When it is desired to lower the sail, the halyard is pulled until the ring rises above the pawl and the pawl will fall to cover the catch when the halyard is released. The top of the pawl guides the ring down and beyond the hook plate until it is free. The sail may then be fully lowered.