The core on the deck under the mast step is wet. Drilled some hole to see how far the water spread. Seems that just the core under the step is wet. Cut the top of the deck off and found the piece of ply under the step was wet removed the wet piece of plywood and sanded the bottom layer so I'm ready to put back together. Here's where the problem is 3/4 plywood as core should I just use plywood or if I solid fill and layup how do I attach the post from the bottom and mast step from the top? Both are screwed into the plywood core. Will fiberglass hold a screw tight? Can you tread it? would a piece of teak be a better core wood? Or am I over thinking this?
Mast step core wet
- Thread starter Kh3412
- Start date
An aluminum plate or solid fiberglass would work well but would best be drilled and tapped to work with machine screws.. not an easy one.. A piece of pressure treated marine plywood would be fine there. dry it in the sun a few days before trying to glass it in.. The key is to bed everything so that the water can't get in.
I would replace the core with original, i. e., plywood, then glass in securely. On my boat (1980 H30) the mast step is through bolted with 1/4-20 machine screws, though I think wood screws into the plywood would work as well. The compression post under the deck is not attached to the deck at all; it is held in place by the bulkhead to which it is attached.
OK I put teak in just because I had it. Put a piece of aluminum next, replaced the top layer I had removed. Solid as new. Found the screws line up with the piece on top of the post in cabin so through bolting back together. Guess it was easier to use wood screws when they built it. Just have paint\gelcoat to do.
