2002 Beneteau 361 Mast Step Replacement

Apr 8, 2016
114
Beneteau 361 Clipper Garrucha, Spain
IMG_1649.JPG
Hi,

This is my first post and wish to thank members in advance for any answers received.
I am new to boat ownership having charted yachts since 2010, so Im finding out many things about boat maintenance having never had to do it before!
My boat is out of the water so I could take down the forestay and replace the wire. Unfortunately the new wire came up 7mm short, in an effort to pull the mast forward to make the connection using a halyard the tension on the mast step caused it sheer off ( See attached ) the common feeling is the part looks well oxidised and could have failed whilst afloat. The dealer who ordered the new part from France ( 4-6 weeks delivery )
said the same as other members of my sailing club, " Ive never seen that before!"
My questions are, has any other Beneteau owner had a similar problem?
If so, how did you get on removing the old step? Do the 4 bolts go all the way through
to the compression post below?
 
Last edited:

DougM

.
Jul 24, 2005
2,242
Beneteau 323 Manistee, MI
That was either a defective casting or it got dropped or impacted during initial install... The cracks look like they originated across the bolt holes. (Over torqued?)
Either way it's got to be replaced. And yes the bolts go all the way through to the compression post.
 
Apr 8, 2016
114
Beneteau 361 Clipper Garrucha, Spain
Doug, thanks for your reply. Yes, I totally agree. I had not considered the bolts being over torqued and will consider that when installing the new step, its only cast aluminium after all.