I finished that job last year. I took the mast down. cut out around the raised area that the mast step sets on. Left the edges so I could use as a guide for hight once I started to put it back together. cut down to the cabin top. removed the plywood. laid it all up with glass. had the mast step welded inside to close off the cut out area in the center. welded a 8" long 1" dia pipe for wiring conduit. coiled up about 5' inside the mast for the next time it comes down. mast was rewired with no breaks all the way to the breakers. Took out the pressure post and the iron I beam on the keel. Had a local steal plastic shop make me a new Ibeam out of SS 1/4". Apoxied it back in place. Be sure its exactly at the right hight so the mast isn't putting pressure on your sole. All the wieght should be on the Ibeam. I used WM apoxy to lock it down and made sure I could slip a piece of paper under the plate the pressure post sets on and the sole. It wasn't that much of a project. Water coming down inside the mast has no place to go but out the drain. at the reat of the mast. Wiring no longer comes out of the side of the mast and down thru the deck. After I brought the glass plate up to the top of the cut out area I painted it with gel coat and sanded it. Looks like original, turned out nice. Lots of archives here on this site on this subject...
