Mast Step Moisture

[Richard Mercer]

I am in the process of buying a 1983 Catalina 30. The survey shows considerable moisture around the mast step area. Have any of you owners encountered this situation and made repairs? If so, at what cost? I'm trying to decide if I should go ahead with the purchase or not. Any opinions?My time frame is very short so I would appreciate any info I can get ASAP.Thanks,Dick

 

[John Olson]

Mast step

My mast step was wet and it sunk about 1/4" with the mast on top and the rig tight. You can drillholes under the mast step throw the first layer of glass down to the bottom layer of glass then stop andclean out holes use a dremal tool to cut away the wood between the glass at the maststep let dry and fill with west epoxy and filler.Seal cabin top with good sealer.If The wet spot is very large you will have to cut alarger piece of the cabin top off once you have to cut the nonskid is harder to make it look the same but you could put a stainless steel plate over the work or just change the nonskid around the mast to be painted flat.Try to have aglassman look at it and give you aprice on the job I did thework on my boat and It came out good I had a glass man epoxy paint the spot that I fixed when he was at the yard working on a diffrent boat Ive seen this job done for about 800 bucks the spot on the deck was about 16" around and the nonskid was made flat and then gellcoated to matchthe white on the deck good luck John

 

[Augie Byllott]

Soft spot at mast step

I'd get an estimate for the repair work from a yard experienced in this sort of thing. Then I'd ask the seller to have it fixed or adjust the price by the amount of the estimate. When you go to sell it, a "homemade" deck repair job will be a real turnoff to prospective buyers. There are plenty of Catalinas around and they are always coming on the market. If you can't work out a good enough deal, why not look for another one?