Dwyer mast step

Joe11688 · May 5, 2013

Larry, What make is your mast? Is your mast plug made of cast aluminum? I used nylon washers and Never-Seize to insulate the two metals. I made my own mast extrusion. I also cut a series of kerfs around my mast plug to enable any rain water to drain out of the mast. I've heard of people using the polyethylene from a milk jug to insulate the two metals but I'm pretty sure that there is a product on the market made specifically for this purpose.
http://forums.oday.sailboatowners.com/album.php?albumid=372&page=3 Check out my album for pics of my mast extrusion.

Brian S · May 6, 2013

You can use Ultra Tef-gel or Lanocote to address galvanic corrosion.

http://www.tefgel.com
http://www.forespar.com/products/boat-lubricant-lanocote.shtml

Lanocote is highly recommended for lubricating turnbuckle threads as well. I use the Tef-Gel on SS to AL, and I have "pure lanolin" I got from an organic heath foods store. I have heard of people buying anhydrous lanolin from a pharmacy, but I couldn't find any at 3 major chain and 2 local pharmacies, and not one person working knew what "anhydrous" meant. Guess it doesn't take any particular education level to be a pharmacy tech... In any case, it doesn't look as if my "pure lanolin" will wear off my turnbuckle threads anytime soon...

Brian

Yankee Girl · May 6, 2013

Any non conductive gasket or washer works well, nylon, elastomer, etc. I have to try lanolin, get that in the pharmacy baby aisle. New moms use it. No pharmacy degree here, just two kids. I've even used 5200 between parts that i dont intend to ever touch again and that seems to work well.

Brian S · May 7, 2013

My issue with a nylon or neoprene gasket/washer/etc. is that it does not do anything for the threads, and that's where I worry most about corrosion. Galvanic corrosion is still about dissimilar metals in contact with each other. As for Lanolin, I have lubed my turnbuckle threads with it (Brion Toss Rigging recommends it) and I did use it on my old boat (which I sold) to mount some SS rivets into the AL mast. I'm sure it'll hold up better than the factory did back in '72, when they probably didn't use anything.

Neither lanolin application was near fiberglass...

Joe11688 · May 8, 2013

Larry3525 said:
Thanks for the replies. Joe I do not know the manufacturer of the mast but will try the nylon washer idea. My biggest problem is still getting the old one out. Brian, my brother also recommended the Tef-Gel. I would think the lanolin residue would stain the fiberglass as it aged. Other than that the bottom is painted and everything is shined and ready to float. Just get this mast thing worked out and fire the engine once and a launch can't be too far off.
Larry3525

If your mast has external halyards it's not Z-Spar. All you need to do is just drill out the old screws to remove the old mast plug.
Good luck!

Joe

srojoetoo · Jun 13, 2013

Trinkka said:
If your mast has external halyards it's not Z-Spar. All you need to do is just drill out the old screws to remove the old mast plug.
Good luck!

Joe

Joe I have a Zspar mast on my 222 and have external main halyard(previous owners). I see in the Zpar catalog that one can get a fitting for the top of the mast for an external halyard. regards tom c S/V MIO AMORE [self explanitory]

OD22

Joe11688 · Jun 15, 2013

srojoetoo said:
Joe I have a Zspar mast on my 222 and have external main halyard(previous owners). I see in the Zpar catalog that one can get a fitting for the top of the mast for an external halyard. regards tom c S/V MIO AMORE [self explanitory] OD22

I didn't know that. I suppose that anything is possible though.

I kind of favor the internal halyard mast though. The only disadvantage I found with it was that the wiring for my steaming light got broken. I wound up removing the steaming light. I never used it that much anyway.