Mast step rebuild 192/222?

[Brian S]

Has anyone had to do a mast step rebuild on a 192 or 222?

I'm pretty sure that my standing rigging is not as tight as it was when I launched this spring. Last time that happened on my Harpoon 4.6, I had to rebuild the mast step due to wet plywood core. I know that the Precision line of boats sometimes needs this done. I haven't read much about anyone rebuilding the step on a 192/222.

This weekend I will probably re-tension a turn or 2 all the way around the turnbuckles, and pray it doesn't seem to loosen again. God knows I don't want to go cutting into my deck.

Truth be told, I don't see how there might be plywood, or any core under there, given that the contour inside the cabin where the compression post goes closely approximates the outside shape. Which begs the secondary question, does anyone know what the layup schedule under the mast step bracket actually looks like?

192s and 222s are similar, but I do know that the compression post of a 192 is directly under the mast, whereas with a 222 it is offset, requiring a separate SS tube that goes from mast step down to the wood spindle on the bulkhead.

 

[Sunbird22358]

I suspect that our friend Rudy Nickerson would have some helpful info on this. Too bad our late Friend Joe Alves is no longer with us, he might be able to relate from his experience with his 222.

All I can tell you is that I had to replace the plywood under the decking of my DS II, the plywood under the "floor" of my Cuddy had rotted out and also the plastic pipe used as a compression post under there did not line up with the maststep! Previous owner had tried to fiberglass the crack in the cuddy floor, but he wasn't exactly good a fiberglass...... I had a rude awakening the weekend after I launched my new to me DS II in 1996, when as I sailed along, I suddenly heard a big BANG!!! and the rig went very slack. I looked into the cuddy and could see the mast step "floating" up and down a few inches..... I don't really remember how I returned home, (maybe dropped the sails and motored) but I had to add a temporary metal plate under the maststep to bridge the crack, that got me through the rest of my short season that year (launched August 2, hauled August 31 for a hurricane threat). Over the winter I replaced the plywood under the mast step and added a 1/4" thick aluminum plate between the step and the cuddy floor. The better repair including relocating the plastic pipe mentioned above was done by me 9 years later when that plywood piece rotted out again (I hadn't sealed in in epoxy well enough I guess). Mast step is practically "bullet-proof" now!

 

[Apex]

I did the 28 this spring: Used an oscillating tool to cut off the top skin, and route out the rotten core. Allow it to dry out. Epoxy in some G10 board, and replaced the top skin, putting on a layer of glass over the cut marks for good measure. So far so good: rock solid.