Tanzer 16 Hinged Mast Step --early models had them

Tanzer 16 Hinged Mast Step --early models had them -- May 16, 2014  -- While writing about building a hinged mast step, I speculated that one could cut down the mast a bit and mount it on a tabernacle thus creating a much more convenient hinged mast step.  (see Tanzer 16 Raising the Mast Single-handed   --  May 12, 2014)  Just because there was nothing better to do while I wait for my arm to heal, I studied the plans in some detail wondering how one would set about such a project.  Whoa!  Johann Tanzer had already thought of it and done it.  Here is a little note buried in the middle of the mast dimensions.

The note refers to a king post on older models.  Why--To what end?  What did it look like?  How was it attached? We know it anchored two parts: 57 and 63.

A bunch of hours later the answer was found on a You Tube video Sailing at Beaver Lake 2012, posted by jaybender.  The sail number is 378 (an early boat), and clearly it has a hinged step that would make a portable hinge unnecessary.

Here's a closer look. Fuzzy, but definitely a hinge.  

So now the bigger mystery --did Tanzer change the mast to make a simpler rig, a rig less costly to produce, or did it not work so swell?  If it works, it would sure be a nice retrofit on #1306.  Better pictures and more detail welcome.

Today's Cliche:  No good deed goes unpunished, but it's likely to go unnoticed.

Next post --Trailer lights that actually work --most of the time.