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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Mast Step Replacement

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megrier
1st Mate

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USA
55 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/07/2004 : 11:53:57

Hi to all,

I am new to the forum but have been reading on and off for the past couple of weeks. Lots of goooood info!

Last year was my first year with this boat and I have really enjoyed it. I did a bad thing when I lowered the mast at the end of the season. I did not loosen the Mast bolt enough and when we lowered the mast ..... we had a mast step that was pulled right out of deck! Bent mast step .... bent screws etc!!!

Now I have recieved my new mast step from CD and also decided to add the halyard plate.

Questions ... How much damage did I do to the deck when the screws pulled out? Can I just fill the stipped screw holes with glue and reinstall the new mast step and halyard plate?

Any ideas welcome, thanks!

Edited by - on

John Mason
Admiral

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USA
687 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2004 : 13:27:13

If it were my boat, I'd mix up some epoxy with coloidal silica to form a thin putty (a consistency that would flow into the voids, as opposed to peanut butter that stays were it is). Pour/flow it into the holes, work all the bubbles out, and when it sets, redrill and remount the mast step.

Some like to wax the bolts and embed them in the epoxy, then when the epoxy sets, the wax allows the bolts to be removed and you have nicely threaded holes custom-made for the remounting of the mast step.

This is assuming a large chunk of deck didn't come up with the mast step and you just have "enlarged" holes to fill.

Edited by - on

Buzz Maring
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1772 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2004 : 14:09:35

Hi Greg,

Welcome to the group!

I had a similar thing happen to my mast step once. Since there was a small amount of delamination under the mast step, I decided to take care of it before I rebedded the mast step. I drilled a bunch of small holes into the delaminated area about a half inch apart ... then I filled the holes with "Git Rot." Git Rot is like a thin epoxy ... it wicks into the affected areas to harden it. After that, I drilled out the mounting holes and refilled them with epoxy ... after the epoxy cured I simply reattached the mast tabernacle, and it feels solid as a rock now.

'Hope that helps ... good luck!

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2004 : 14:28:25

Welcome to the forum, Greg.

I don't have any direct experience repairing the mast step so I'll defer to those, like John and Buzz, who have done the repair.

Again, welcome aboard and good luck.

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Raskal
Navigator

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USA
162 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2004 : 16:01:42

Greg, I obtained the new mast step and halyard plate last year and the first thing I noticed was that the halyard plate didn't have any holes drilled because Catalina didn't use a standard template for drilling the original step plate. Drilling those holes won't be so easy unless you have a good home workshop; measuring and marking carefully and working at home with jigs and hard bits or taking it to a machine shop may be preferable to trying to hand drill them at the boat (that stainless is very hard!)

I obtained an extra L-shaped aluminum chain plate bracket and cut it in half with the idea of using it as a backing for the mast step bolts on the cabin side. It seems like those bolts would deserve the same reinforcement on the underside as the shrouds get. Your bolts might not have torn through if they had been backed with plates...

Rich Kokoska

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megrier
1st Mate

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USA
55 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2004 : 16:37:57

Wow!

I come back a couple of hours later and I have great advise from all of you. I feel better already.

Also, thanks for the tip on drilling the holes. I had noticed that I would need to drill and was wondering how hard that stainless was. I think I will beg the guys at my shop to use some good equipment to drill the holes be for I even try with a hand drill.

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Derek Crawford
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3324 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2004 : 18:10:23

Greg - I would definitely take the mast step plate to a machine shop for drilling. I had to drill out the holes in my gudgeons (old style ones) to insert bushings - it took most of the day and 5 drill bits! (And the gudgeons are thinner than the mast step plate). That stainless steel is TOUGH!!!
Derek

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Doug G.
1st Mate

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USA
49 Posts

Response Posted - 04/07/2004 : 18:10:30

I replaced my mast step last year. I was able to drill the new holes by using my 15 yr old standard 3/8 black & decker drill. It took 4-5 minutes per hole. I used 2 brand new good quality drill bits and some oil to cool it. Didn't need a drill press. K.I.S.S.

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.