New Mast Step

[Tim]

I had a steel step for my aluminum mast and both were heavily corroded. So last year I started the repair. I built a new mast step from G10 fiberglass and the mast was re stepped this morning. The new step is 4.75 inches taller than the old and the same amount was cut off the end of the mast. Here are the before and after pics.

[ndutton]

Nice repair and great pictures of a pan rod (aka tie rod) lower attachment.

http://www.moyermarineforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=77465&postcount=91

[Tim]

Thanks Neil. I made the tie rod bracket from 316 stainless angle iron. The mast step and the tie rod bracket are held in place by keel bolts.

[ndutton]

What provisions for drainage did you make?

[Tim]

There is a drain hole in the center of the plug that fits inside the mast and corresponding holes/slot on the fixed and sliding plates under it. The riser box under the plates has drain holes on the sides.

[Al Schober]

Nice job.
I had to cut 1" off the bottom of my mast (Tartan 30). Metalmast in Putnam, CT (now out of business) made me a new step out of aluminum plate - anodized after welding/fab. At the time, they told me they'd made one new step where they had cut over a foot off the bottom of a mast!

[Tim]

Thanks Al. I thought about having an aluminum step built but I couldn't find anyone to do it other than a local machine shop. Also, an aluminum step wouldn't completely solve the problem. The step is held in place by 4 of the stainless steel keel bolts, so there would still be corrosion where the stainless bolts contact the aluminum step. By using G10 fiberglass there are no dissimilar metals in contact in the entire system.

[thatch]

Tim, Excellent design and execution, love the "adjustability"
Tom

[Tim]

Thanks Tom. I had help with the design from Dan Pfeiffer. He had the same problem on his Pearson 10M. His repair was more elaborate and involved cutting away the cabin floor and glassing in new floor sections. He documented his repair on his website http://dan.pfeiffer.net/10m/mast_step.htm. I wanted to keep it simpler than that and Dan helped me design the new G10 mast step.

I like the "adjustability" too. The original step had slotted mounting points, but the way it was wedged into the bilge it was never going to move. Also, the only way to move it would be to loosen 4 keel bolts. Not a good idea unless you're on the hard.