[Public-List] How does the top mast step bolt to the lower mast step plate on older boats?

[Jeffrey]

Thanks Geeorge, Rachel, Michael,

I'll proceed as advised.

My lower piece has a broken stud, so someone drilled new holes, but
not all the way through likely because the step was still on the deck,
and they tapped down just a little. On two of the holes I just get a
few turns with the bolt. I've drilled all the way through, and tapped
good treads all the way through. I'll get new bolts and cut them down
so they just barely miss the deck.

-jeff


Jeff Fongemie
#116 Seagrass

http://picasaweb.google.com/fongemie







On Mon, May 24, 2010 at 12:54 PM, George Dinwiddie
<gdinwiddie at alberg30.org> wrote:
> I've not gotten around to turning these into proper web pages, but perhaps
> http://alberg30.org/maintenance/disorganized/maststep/ and
> http://alberg30.org/maintenance/disorganized/maststep/retapping/ will help.
>
> The mast step is only intended to hold the bottom of the mast in position.
>  The shrouds and stays hold it in place.
>
>  - George
>
> Jeffrey wrote:
>>
>> I've finally addressed taking off my mast step plate to see what's
>> under there. Deck is hard and sound, but any old sealant is dry and
>> dusty. Seagrass is an older boat, so the lower plate was held in with
>> six flat head bolts, the center two going right through to the cabin
>> inside.
>>
>> It's the top section I'm concerned about. The top section of my setup
>> (what the mast actually sits on, is held by four short bolts, that
>> bolt only to the lower mast plate (which is bolted to the deck). Since
>> it appears there has been a few new holes drilled, filled and changed,
>> I don't know if this is original. I'm wondering if the top bolts
>> should go straight through the lower plate into the fiberglass?
>>
>> Anyone with an older boat know what the original setup is?
>>
>> I must admit that I'm not entirely sure I understand the direction of
>> the forces the rig puts in this. Obviously downward pressure.
>> Certainly the aluminum or fiberglass threads won't hold any upward
>> pull.  Are there sideways forces at the mast base? The whole aluminum
>> threading seems so weak, even the top plate isn't that meaty on the
>> outside of the ovals.
>>
>> Essentially, should I leave it alone and just let the top bolts tread
>> to the bottom plate?
>>
>> -Jeff
>>
>>
>> Jeff Fongemie
>> #116 Seagrass
>>
>> http://picasaweb.google.com/fongemie
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> --
>  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>  When I remember bygone days                         George Dinwiddie
>  I think how evening follows morn;            gdinwiddie at alberg30.org
>  So many I loved were not yet dead,           http://www.Alberg30.org
>  So many I love were not yet born.                          also see:
>               'The Middle' by Ogden Nash     http://idiacomputing.com
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-- 
Jeffrey Fongemie

 1274784201.0