Mast step H310

[wdonovan]

My massive step plate needs to be removed and resealed. I have all the hardware off and I separated all the silicon sealant for the putty knife. It doesn’t wanna budge. I can move it a little on the deck. I can pry it up slightly with Screwdrivers but it feels like it’s welded to the compression post. Any experience, suggestions, or helpful tips most welcome.

 

[wdonovan]

Mast not massive. Sorry this doesn’t seem to let me edit it on an iPhone

 

[jssailem]

I would not use a screw driver as a wedge... Use a stiff putty knife and slide it between deck and mast step.
Do this with care. Be sure you have removed all of the screws that go through the plate into the deck. They hold the mast step in place. They may be screwed into the compression post.
Also if you have any through tubes that carry wires into the boat, they may have adhesive caulking on the tubes. This could hang up removing the mast step.

Here is what I mean. How my mast step looks. The wrap of wired were cut off and new cables were run down into the conduit tubes.

 

[Terry Cox]

Any experience, suggestions, or helpful tips most welcome.

Different model boat here, but our mast step plate was through bolted (four, one on each corner) to the coach roof. Once those were removed, the plate came right off. Our PO used silicone II to stop a leak, which did not work, and I hate the stuff. Wrote an article about it some time ago and no leaks ever since. I did that repair in 2002. As John said in his post, I would use a wide blade putty knife to work around the seam between the plate and the coach roof to break any sealant. Hunter 42 Owner Modifications and Upgrades

 

[wdonovan]

Thanks guys. I did use a putty knife to separate the joint between the plate and the fiberglas deck. Only after not being able to remove the step plate did I get 3 screwdrivers and without using unreasonable force, tried to lift the plate. The plate is now free from the boat deck 100%. It is however, very friendly with the compression post.

Let me describe the setup a bit. The actual step is not water-sealed at all. It has holes for the blocks and holes for future blocks. It sits atop a plate that is sealed to the deck. That plate has one tube feed-through for the mast wiring. I think it must have a boss on the bottom that fits inside the round compression post. There is no attachment that I can see but it certainly does not simply sit on top of the post.

I could not see any screws on the top although I did not study it carefully. I did go back to the boat and check from inside the cabin for lateral screws nears the top of the post and couldn't find any. I will go back tonight and uncover the top (I taped plastic over becasue it started raining). I will scrub the top of the plate and see if there is any hidden magic solution there but I am doubtful as it is just a 1/4" thick plate and no screws were easily visible. Still scratching my head on this one.

 

[wdonovan]

---RESOLVED---
Got a callback from the Hunter 1 on 1 tech line (which love) and the step sub plate is welded to the compression post. Removal will involved saloon table, table counter weight, cord and pulley. Much more work than I wanted, but at least knowing what is what helps tremendously. Well worth the $35 entrance fee.