Loose Mast Step

LakeMurraySailor

LakeMurraySailor

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Nov 10, 2015
195
Hunter 336 Columbia, SC
I want to give many thanks everyone here and I hope someone can guide me in the right direction! My mast step was knocked loose by a tree limb falling on the boat(long story) and I was wondering about how I should proceed. I'll talk about my possible solutions:

First I put 2-part epoxy glue, that was joke! Not only did I waste my $5 but also, I missed the last two buoy races(the last of the fall series)!

Two I want to fix this! Should I bore the holes big enough to put dowel rods in or should I go through to top of the cabin sole with long bolts or try beefing up the current holes through the deck? Please help! Thank you!
 
Gene Neill

Gene Neill

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Sep 30, 2013
3,564
1988 Catalina 22 North Florida
No big deal. Grind out the failed repair. Fill it back in with REAL epoxy this time (West 105 or equivalent), thickened with colloidal silica (West 404 or 406, or similar). Reinstall the tabernacle, bedding it properly with butyl tape or polyurethane caulk.
Done! :)
 
LakeMurraySailor

LakeMurraySailor

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Nov 10, 2015
195
Hunter 336 Columbia, SC
Sorry about all the duplicates(technological issues)! I saw a mast step on Catalina Direct, it seems it would be easier to step the mast with that. It's $31, should I order it and attach that instead?
 
Leeward Rail

Leeward Rail

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Mar 20, 2015
3,179
C&C 30 Mk1 Winnipeg
Based on the type of fasteners, it appears you have a wood compression post.

Like Gene says, you'd have to fill the hole that goes into the compression post with epoxy +filler.
Once that is done, you'll need to pre drill a hole into it, a bit smaller than the lag screw.
If you just fill the hole and put the screw back in, the teak compression post can/will split.

For the deck portion of the both holes, I'd pot them with epoxy and redrill them. That way the core is protected.
Having the repaired holes in the deck lined with epoxy is the goal.
EDIT: http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/sealing_the_deck

While you could use a short piece of wood dowel in JUST the top of the compression post, I would NOT use it to fill the 2 deck holes, since it can absorb water.

The Lag screw is the what attaches the mast step to the compression post. (the important one)
It goes through the deck, and into the top of the compression post.
The normal bolt stops the step from turning, and only goes through the deck.
If I remember correctly, it's recommended to use a slightly larger lag screw than original. I think the CD kit mentions that.

Not sure why that spacer block was added by a previous owner. I presume the mast was modified at some point. Maybe the bottom of the mast was damaged and it was trimmed shorter at some point, so the spacer was added ?
Maybe they added the spacer but didn't change the fasteners to longer ones ?

I can't see needing a new step though. Unless you want to upgrade at the same time, for things like the ability to attach blocks to the step. Personally I'd upgrade since you are already doing the work, but it's not required.

EDIT: If you decide to use Butyl Tape to reseal it, here's how to do it:
http://www.pbase.com/mainecruising/rebedding_hardware

Beware the quality of some butyl out there ! Some is not suitable for boats.
Some people suggest simply buying it from MaineSail, but other stuff is out there, you just need to test it before you use it.

EDIT: Both links BTW are by the sailboatowners.com featured contributor "MaineSail"
 
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CloudDiver

CloudDiver

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Sep 8, 2014
2,551
Catalina 22 Swing Keel San Diego
Bad News dude.... the aft bolt in the pic (the lag screw) appears to be broken off. That means the tip of it is still in the compression post. Hopefully it is not deep since that spacer was added, the tip should be close to the top of the post. You'll have to take the compression post out, its not very hard to do. A dremel tool with the right bit or a Roto-Zip would be good to get that broken lag screw out. After that, like Gene mentioned, you'll have to fill the hole in the post with epoxy and pilot drill for a 5/16 Stainless lag screw (the original is 1/4). Same for the holes that are torn up in the deck, over drill them (probably 7/16) and fill with slightly thickened epoxy.

(Never mind! I noticed in the pic that the mast step is sitting in the opposite direction, so the lag screw is to the front of the pic and isn't broken!)

For the Mast Step, since that spacer is in there, like Leeward mentioned, it is safe to assume that the PO shortened the Mast. I would suggest getting the mast spacer from CD, and along with it get the upgrade Mast halyard Plate & the upgraded Mast Step with the Tang. All this gets a bit expensive, but its worth it to do all the repairs now and do them correctly.

If your compression post ends up being too messed up to re-use because of the broken lag screw, let me know, I have an extra one. I replaced mine with a custom Stainless Steel post. Wort case, they are always on eBay for around $40.
 
LakeMurraySailor

LakeMurraySailor

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Nov 10, 2015
195
Hunter 336 Columbia, SC
Wow, you guys are amazing! I appreciate the info. The mast step I saw on Catalina Direct didn't appear to be right but I will research more. There is not a "traditional" compression post under the mast(inside the cabin) like the ones I've had on other boats, so can you send a picture CL? I thank all for your advice, I hope I don't screw it up!

The winds were about 12 mph yesterday and I was bummed-out that I couldn't launch the Cat, but I have a Pearson 30 over at the marina so I raced her instead. In the first race the O'day 27 and the Islander 36 were on the RC(starboard) side of the course and beat me to the starting line. So I figured that since I got a bad start, I'd cross the line on the pin end and I beat them both to windward mark! Then we raced to the leeward mark(the starting line was closed) so we had to jibe at the pin end to get to the leeward mark(that's when I found out my headsail is rotten)! I was on the inside and beat them to the leeward mark but as I rounded the mark my headsail leech line pulled out of the sail and caught on the spreader and stayed there while the sail was on the other side of the boat! The rest of the story is that I was foiled again! Curses! I was destined not to have a good day racing but the sail to the marina was great!

If anybody knows where I can get a used roller-furling headsail for a Pearson 30, I would appreciate the information. Oh and by the way, does anybody know how to determine the foil size?

The Spring series start the last weekend in February 2016 and I've got work to do!

Thanks in advance!
 
Leeward Rail

Leeward Rail

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Mar 20, 2015
3,179
C&C 30 Mk1 Winnipeg
Jalepeno said:
We sail all year round here on the "wet coast".
Click to expand
Been there done that. Truthfully, I hated living on the island. I would get so sick of the cloud and pissing rain, that I'd drive out past Sooke and stare out at the ocean in a rainsuit just because I was sick of being inside and craved being away from people.
The fall and spring are the best times out there for sailing in my experience. More wind, unlike the summer, and a lot less people in anchorages. That said, you can't get an off boat shower in Desolation Sound in the off season unless you know someone. hehe


Like you say though, at least the water isn't frozen if you are willing to go out sailing in the winter. :)
 
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CloudDiver

CloudDiver

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Sep 8, 2014
2,551
Catalina 22 Swing Keel San Diego
Put up a pic of the inside of your cabin, I'm not sure what you mean by not having a compression post. A P.O. modification or was it just removed?
 
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