Cut the skin off the mast step area today. No hardwood nor plywood in there. Just end grain balsa. Mine was rotted out to an area 12 inches wide and 9 inches long. Dry beyond that, thank goodness.
So an epoxy laminated ply pad is in order. Lower layer is 1/2 inch to fit the cut out and falls a few glass layers below the skin level. On top of that will be a beveled edge 1/2 inch "T" to mate up with the profile of the forward edge of the cabin top skin. The base of the "T" will be the mast step. The two fall about 4 glass layers shy of the original step height so the glass laminate will should out well.
Gonna counterbore the step bolt holes and full with epoxy. That should prevent water incursion into the step ply.
I'll have to run new throughdecks for mast wiring and antenna cable. You all have any recommendations on a good long-lasting approac for this?
So an epoxy laminated ply pad is in order. Lower layer is 1/2 inch to fit the cut out and falls a few glass layers below the skin level. On top of that will be a beveled edge 1/2 inch "T" to mate up with the profile of the forward edge of the cabin top skin. The base of the "T" will be the mast step. The two fall about 4 glass layers shy of the original step height so the glass laminate will should out well.
Gonna counterbore the step bolt holes and full with epoxy. That should prevent water incursion into the step ply.
I'll have to run new throughdecks for mast wiring and antenna cable. You all have any recommendations on a good long-lasting approac for this?
