PEARSON 26 MAST STEP

[Keith13349]

I AM MOUNTING SOME BLOCKS TO THE BASE OF MY MAST THAT WILL DIRECT LINES AFT. DOES ANYONE HAVE THEIR MAST STEP EXPOSED SO I CAN BE SURE NOT TO DRILL INTO THE STEP BUT ONLY ABOVE IT. IF SO COULD YOU SEND ME A MEASUREMENT OF THE INSIDE OF THE CASTING.THANKS,KEITH TAYLOR

 

[Tom G]

Mast step

My 1978 P26 OD mast is down. I measured the cast aluminum(?) step height=1 3/4 inches. I don't know who made it, but my boat has a stainless steel plate under the step, directly on top of the cabin top, the mast sits on it as well as the step. It extends horizontally out from the base of the mast, 1 inch +/-,and bends upward at a 45 degree angle for about 2 inches. It has a number of holes in and is great to attach blocks etc. My boat controls are rigged to the cockpit and the necessary blocks are attached to it. Question - I am new to sailing and this is the first time I have had the mast down. Any ideas on what I should be adding, removing, checking and/or replacing? I'm not fond of boswain chairs! Thanks

 

[Keith13349]

WHILE YOUR MAST IS DOWN

TOM,BE SURE YOUR NAVIGATION LIGHTS WERE WORKING BEFORE YOU TOOK DOWN YOUR MAST, IF YOUR NOT SURE TEST THEM WITH A BATTERY AND WIRE LEADS BEFORE YOU STAND YOUR MAST AGAIN, ALSO MAKE SURE YOUR WINDEX, VHF ANTENNA, AND ANY WIND SPEED ELECTS. ARE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER OR ADD ANY THAT YOU MIGHT WISH TO. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO INSPECT YOUR STANDING RIGGING FOR ANY WEAKNESSES IN THE CONNECTIONS AND IF YOU HAVE ANY OLD HALYARDS THAT YOU INTEND TO REPLACE, NOW WOULD BE A CONVENIENT TIME TO DO THAT. ON THE P-26 THERE IS A HEADER THAT DISTRIBUTES THE MAST / RIG LOAD TO EACH SIDE OF THE FORWARD CABIN DOOR-WAY INSIDE THE BOAT, IF YOU WILL BE DOING ANY ALTERATION OR REPAIRS IN THIS AREA DO IT BEFORE YOU STAND THE MAST, AS THE HEADER CAN BE REMOVED SAFELY. THE SIDE-DECK AREA ON A P-26 IS SO NARROW THAT PLASTIC BOOTS ARE A GREAT IDEA TO PROTECT CREW LEGS FROM SCRAPES, I WOULD ADD THEM IF THEY ARE NOT PRESENT NOW. IF YOU DONT HAVE A FURLER THINK VERY SERIOUSLY ABOUT ADDING ONE NOW, ESPECIALLY IF YOU WILL WANT TO GO OUT ALONE OR WITH A LESS THAN ENTHUSIASTIC 1ST MATE.TK TAYLOR