My mast step is rusted and since we plan to pull the mast I'd like to replace it in steel or aluminum. Is there a place to get a blueprint??? Or even a new mast step?? I could make one off of the old but we are not planning to have the mast out but a day or so. Thanks Tom
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My mast step is rusted and since we plan to pull the mast I'd like to replace it in steel or aluminum. Is there a place to get a blueprint??? Or even a new mast step?? I could make one off of the old but we are not planning to have the mast out but a day or so. Thanks Tom
Look at this info on a P365 that has a similar step: pearsoninfo.net/365/notes.htm I am not sure of the configuration of the 323 step but I imagine it's similar. And you may have a situtation where you have some bad corosion in the bottom 1" of the aluminum mast. The metalmast replacemnet can be made to a height so the corroded part of the mast can be cut away. To make the step you cut off the bad part of the mast base, send it to metalmast along with the step and they make the replacement to fit accounting for what you cut off. You will need more than a few days for this process. That's one solution. Dan Pfeiffer
Look at this info on a P365 that has a similar step: pearsoninfo.net/365/notes.htm I am not sure of the configuration of the 323 step but I imagine it's similar. And you may have a situtation where you have some bad corosion in the bottom 1" of the aluminum mast. The metalmast replacemnet can be made to a height so the corroded part of the mast can be cut away. To make the step you cut off the bad part of the mast base, send it to metalmast along with the step and they make the replacement to fit accounting for what you cut off. You will need more than a few days for this process. That's one solution. Dan Pfeiffer
I was hopeing for exisitng plans
I was hopeing that I could quickly replace the mast step. I guess tht I might leave the boat at the marina for a week or so after they pull the mast so that we can load the boat on a trailer. The main problem is that the hauler wants the boat off of his trailer ASAP but the crane operator wants the boat on the trailer to replace the mast. There is no water deep enough for the boat close enough for the crane to reach. Maybe the marina that pulls the mast can do most of the work before the boat is loaded onto a trailer. thanks Tom
I was hopeing that I could quickly replace the mast step. I guess tht I might leave the boat at the marina for a week or so after they pull the mast so that we can load the boat on a trailer. The main problem is that the hauler wants the boat off of his trailer ASAP but the crane operator wants the boat on the trailer to replace the mast. There is no water deep enough for the boat close enough for the crane to reach. Maybe the marina that pulls the mast can do most of the work before the boat is loaded onto a trailer. thanks Tom
Mast step
I had an "experience" with my mast step as well. I had pulled the mast so I decided to refinish the original steel step and build a GRP spacer to level up the bilge and provide a "step" above any bilge water for the refinished steel to sit on. I bungied the step on the back of my motorcycle and rode 3 miles to my shop. When I arrved- no step!!! I walked that entire route and never found the step! I was able to board a sistership and make measurements (before I had a digital camera) and a drawing for a shop to fabricate and weld a new one. I then had the steel powder coated. The powder coat didn't hold up as well as predicted. Even with a dry bilge some water always comes in through the sheeve box at the top of the mast. An aluminum step or galvanized steel would be a better choice. If you build up the bilge under the step... Make sure you have enough adjustment in your turnbuckles for the rigging to work with a "longer" mast! My step did not look like the photo on this post. Mine was flat with 2 "ears" that located the mast. I laso had the fabrication for the tension rod. I have friends that have had good luck with the liquid mast wedge material. I would look to refinish the interior of the mast partners and use the two part plastic mast wedge material. It's very expensive at about $100.00 for the kit and is good at sealing the partners. Good Luck!
I had an "experience" with my mast step as well. I had pulled the mast so I decided to refinish the original steel step and build a GRP spacer to level up the bilge and provide a "step" above any bilge water for the refinished steel to sit on. I bungied the step on the back of my motorcycle and rode 3 miles to my shop. When I arrved- no step!!! I walked that entire route and never found the step! I was able to board a sistership and make measurements (before I had a digital camera) and a drawing for a shop to fabricate and weld a new one. I then had the steel powder coated. The powder coat didn't hold up as well as predicted. Even with a dry bilge some water always comes in through the sheeve box at the top of the mast. An aluminum step or galvanized steel would be a better choice. If you build up the bilge under the step... Make sure you have enough adjustment in your turnbuckles for the rigging to work with a "longer" mast! My step did not look like the photo on this post. Mine was flat with 2 "ears" that located the mast. I laso had the fabrication for the tension rod. I have friends that have had good luck with the liquid mast wedge material. I would look to refinish the interior of the mast partners and use the two part plastic mast wedge material. It's very expensive at about $100.00 for the kit and is good at sealing the partners. Good Luck!
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