well i just got the oil cleaned out of the bilge(split and oil line) and have noticed severe corosion on the base of the mast and the mast step casting. any ideas on where to get another casting or is this a do it yourself project that can be fabricated from cut and welded flat alum plate?...i am guessing that i will have to cut away an inch or two off the base of mast so i will have to build up the step to make up the difference. any help out there? any thought on using STARBOARD???? someone told me that it would compress but the spec sheet i saw showed very high compression numbers...maybe use the starboard topped with alum...Help me out here gang, got new rigging, new chainplates, and a new mainsail comming, so i want to drop the mast and re do it all in one operation. will re do the wireing and touch up the odd/end paint chipping around the spreaders and,......thanks in advance chet p
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Tom Hadoulias
Rig-Rite...
Chet, I've had the same problem, if you check the archives there is plenty of data there. Rig-Rite at www,rigrite.com has the mast steps, it's under the Kenyon section. Find your mast cross section in the diagrams and it's at the bottom of the page. The plate is a welded assembly of a flat 1/4" plate large enough to encompass three keel bolts and a mast step welded to it. It is a bear to remove but can be accomplished with proper persuasion. I cut two inches off my mast, added two inches of flat aluminum plate to compensate, new footplate, new mast step, had them all welded together and it worked great! Now the whole thing is out of the water and the problem won't re-occur! You may get lucky on the step and mast base, once you get them apart and clean they don't look as bad. I had electrolysis between the keel bolts and the aluminum plate but the mast step was virtually undamaged. I had to replace it as it was welded to the plate instead of bolted, maybe you'll luck out. Good luck, it's a daunting task but really not that bad when it's finished. Tom S/V Lite Chop
Chet, I've had the same problem, if you check the archives there is plenty of data there. Rig-Rite at www,rigrite.com has the mast steps, it's under the Kenyon section. Find your mast cross section in the diagrams and it's at the bottom of the page. The plate is a welded assembly of a flat 1/4" plate large enough to encompass three keel bolts and a mast step welded to it. It is a bear to remove but can be accomplished with proper persuasion. I cut two inches off my mast, added two inches of flat aluminum plate to compensate, new footplate, new mast step, had them all welded together and it worked great! Now the whole thing is out of the water and the problem won't re-occur! You may get lucky on the step and mast base, once you get them apart and clean they don't look as bad. I had electrolysis between the keel bolts and the aluminum plate but the mast step was virtually undamaged. I had to replace it as it was welded to the plate instead of bolted, maybe you'll luck out. Good luck, it's a daunting task but really not that bad when it's finished. Tom S/V Lite Chop
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Ed Schenck
Tom, finish the story.
Tom reminded me to check the partner area while everything is apart. Unbolt the partners and check for moisture in the decking. If yes then drill, dry, and epoxy. Yes or no, mix some resin and saturate the perimeter before reinstalling the partners. Are you using the same sizes Chet? I know Tom increased the shrouds from 1/4" to 9/32", same as the backstay.
Tom reminded me to check the partner area while everything is apart. Unbolt the partners and check for moisture in the decking. If yes then drill, dry, and epoxy. Yes or no, mix some resin and saturate the perimeter before reinstalling the partners. Are you using the same sizes Chet? I know Tom increased the shrouds from 1/4" to 9/32", same as the backstay.
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Gene Gruender
Been there, too.
I went through this, too. As Tom said, the step may be fine. Mine was,even though the plate it was welded to was completely eaten up. It's not that hard to remove the step from what remains of the plate. Use a file, grinder (with an aluminum cutting disk), hacksaw or whatever is at your disposal. Aluminum is pretty soft, so it's not so bad. Build it up with something aluminum. Depending on how much you need to remove from the mast, a section of plate as suggested might do it. I took off 5", so I welded a short section cut from an old, bigger in dia mast to the plate, then put a flate plate top on it, then welded the old step to the top of that.
I went through this, too. As Tom said, the step may be fine. Mine was,even though the plate it was welded to was completely eaten up. It's not that hard to remove the step from what remains of the plate. Use a file, grinder (with an aluminum cutting disk), hacksaw or whatever is at your disposal. Aluminum is pretty soft, so it's not so bad. Build it up with something aluminum. Depending on how much you need to remove from the mast, a section of plate as suggested might do it. I took off 5", so I welded a short section cut from an old, bigger in dia mast to the plate, then put a flate plate top on it, then welded the old step to the top of that.
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Barry
mast corrosion
Did you completely remove the mast hen you completed the corrosion problem? I have the same problem and need to remove abouat 6" of mast I was thinking I could brace the mast in place, loosen the shrouds a little,jack athe mast about 1 inch cut the mast in place, and slide a pedistal under the mast with a step welded to it. Don't know if it will work, but from what I read here, it does look do-able. Hope this makes sense, Any suggestions are appreciated Barry
Did you completely remove the mast hen you completed the corrosion problem? I have the same problem and need to remove abouat 6" of mast I was thinking I could brace the mast in place, loosen the shrouds a little,jack athe mast about 1 inch cut the mast in place, and slide a pedistal under the mast with a step welded to it. Don't know if it will work, but from what I read here, it does look do-able. Hope this makes sense, Any suggestions are appreciated Barry
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Gene Gruender
my method
Barry, Not sure if you were asking me, but when I did mine I alreeady had the mast out from moving the boat. However, I believe you could do it the way you are suggesting. If I were going to, I'd loosen the stays a bit, then use a jack against the lower cleat on the mast. Or, maybe make a jig to go around the mast and put the load on the winch pad. The mast weighs about 400 lbs. or so plus, I'd say, judging from when we carried mine. Plus a hundred more for the stays, add a couple more hundred for the downward force on the stays. Adding this up I'd plan on supporting about 1500 lbs or so when I raised it. I'd take care not to put all the weight in one spot on the deck. You might just punch a hole in it.
Barry, Not sure if you were asking me, but when I did mine I alreeady had the mast out from moving the boat. However, I believe you could do it the way you are suggesting. If I were going to, I'd loosen the stays a bit, then use a jack against the lower cleat on the mast. Or, maybe make a jig to go around the mast and put the load on the winch pad. The mast weighs about 400 lbs. or so plus, I'd say, judging from when we carried mine. Plus a hundred more for the stays, add a couple more hundred for the downward force on the stays. Adding this up I'd plan on supporting about 1500 lbs or so when I raised it. I'd take care not to put all the weight in one spot on the deck. You might just punch a hole in it.
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chet pruszynski
thanks and one final thought
All your input has made what appeared to be a major job seem do-able. I was hoping to pull the mast befor my annual haulout but the local yards either cant' do it because the mast is keel stepped, or they want so much they must think i'm made of money... anyway my plan is to maybe hire a crain to come to my YC and split the cost between a few other members that want to do the same thing... to answer the question about the rigging i am staying with the 1/4 as is standard even thought the 316 is rated a bit lower than the 304. I feel the rig is overbuilt and will stay with what is standard, same goes for the chainplates, and they too will be 316. got my new NORTH mainsail friday and may get out today to try it(sunday), but as luck would have it there is NO WIND and the temp is not expected to get above 72-75 with scattered clouds....(had to give you northern guys a gentle reminder that spring is only 4 months away) THANKS AGAIN FOR THE HELP. I will keep you informed....Happy New Year from chet and harriet S/V Harriet's Chariot
All your input has made what appeared to be a major job seem do-able. I was hoping to pull the mast befor my annual haulout but the local yards either cant' do it because the mast is keel stepped, or they want so much they must think i'm made of money... anyway my plan is to maybe hire a crain to come to my YC and split the cost between a few other members that want to do the same thing... to answer the question about the rigging i am staying with the 1/4 as is standard even thought the 316 is rated a bit lower than the 304. I feel the rig is overbuilt and will stay with what is standard, same goes for the chainplates, and they too will be 316. got my new NORTH mainsail friday and may get out today to try it(sunday), but as luck would have it there is NO WIND and the temp is not expected to get above 72-75 with scattered clouds....(had to give you northern guys a gentle reminder that spring is only 4 months away) THANKS AGAIN FOR THE HELP. I will keep you informed....Happy New Year from chet and harriet S/V Harriet's Chariot
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