[Rhodes22-list] failure of mast step

[Richard MacArthur]

I use Stan's mast crane system to raise and lower my imf mast. It works well but I see that the part that takes the greatest stress is the mast step or tabernacle. It's fixed to the cabin top by screws which seem to be a non stainless steel metal. These have been out in the weather for quite some time and are subject to corrosion. Has anyone had these screws fail which would allow the mast to fall? Would it be a big project to replace them with stainless steel? Another possible problem is that the cabin top portion that the screws go into has deteriorated from water leaking into the area although that doesn't seem to be a problem in my boat. Any thoughts on this?
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[R22Rum...@aol.com]

Richard,
Replacing the screws is not a big deal. They are set in a caulk, but it
can deteriorate with time. Most problems with the step come from owners
making huge mistakes and ripping the screws out. The fix is easy. Dry the area
out good and fill with epoxy. Drill holes sized for the new screws and
install with caulk on the threads. Ta dah! My mast step has been in place since
1988. I've never done anything to it.

Rummy




In a message dated 3/20/2012 2:10:24 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

[Mary Lou Troy]

Hi Richard,
The only failure we've experienced in 15 years of raising and
lowering the mast is when we had an improper set-up for raising and
lowering - failure to push the poptop slider closed which pried up
the tabernacle. When that happened the set-up worked as it was
supposed to - it pulled the screws up out of the cabin top. They
didn't break but if I recall correctly they bent and we replaced them
- probably with stainless but I don't remember. As Rummy says the
repair itself was simple: a bit of epoxy and new screws. May have
been some caulk involved. The only time those screws take any load is
during mast raising and lowering.

Best,
Mary Lou

[Lowe, Rob]

Richard,
And as Mary Lou pointed out, they are designed to break away if needed. I pulled my mast step off from my standard main a couple of times when I made mistakes raising the mast. Caulk and new screws fixed it right back. You really want the mast step to pop rather than the cabin top to pop. - rob

[Andrew Collins]

Richard
Yes all of this had happened, the screws are short and will pull out if tje mast support starts to twist or lift. You can and should change screws to SS. My tabernacle was deteriorated with radial cracks from the screw holes out and some chipping. I filled the holes with toothpicks and white epoxy sanded the top smooth, filled the chips with white epoxy, sanded again, masked the area and spray painted with white PU, re-drilled the holes and reinstalled the mast base bedded in white silicone. It wasn't all that much work and it looks fine. I know the bedding compound is supposed to be some other product, but the price was right.
Best
Andrew C
sv Carmen

Sent from mobile device.

[Lowe, Rob]

And you want whatever caulk or bedding material you use to be able to tear away so it doesn't tear off the cabin top. You want it to seal, not adhere. - rob

-----Original Message-----
From: rhodes22-l...@rhodes22.org [mailto:rhodes22-l...@rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of Andrew Collins
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2012 7:01 PM
To: The Rhodes 22 Email List
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] failure of mast step