David, a suggestion about upgrading the mast step
but one that takes a bit of work. I contacted a sailor I met on the sailnet forum last year and he gave me some great information about replacing the mast step on my ODay 272 with a Dwyer tabernacle. The upgrade required some machining together with the purchase of the Dwyer tabernacle. I installed it in the spring of 2001, and it allows me to (safely) step and unstep the mast without the assistance of the boatyard hoist and winch. You don't say what make or model your boat is, but if you'd like to discuss it further, I can pass along a web address which would give you some idea of how to go about upgrading. I can also forward some of my e-mail correspondence with the sailor which include some really good pix. My e-mail address is tomclaud@wcnet.org. Tom Ehmke
