Mast step

[Briann]

I have discovered by way of a moisture meter that my mast step was wet. Expecting to find a soggy mess under the fiberglass, I found instead an alumimum plate and fiberglass, no balsa, no plywood. The whole thing appears to be dry and I believe that the meter was giving a reading off the metal? Does anyone know how the deck is constructed on a 1985 Hunter 31?

 

[Steve Dion]

plywood coring

Briann:There is a plywood core in the deck and coach roof of these boats. The aluminum plate is imbedded beneath the mast so one can attach hardware. These areas are used to attach block, organizers and such.The moisture usually goes thru the wire chase that goes into the deck. The water then either rots the cross member or the compression post. It is best to remove the mast/rigging an do some more inspection.Our compression post and bulk head were damaged and needed replacing but the cross member was intact.