how to step the mast

[GrafLuckner]

So I have almost all of the fiberglass and wood repaired on Shenandoah; time to try raise the mast. OOps.

So we bolted the mast to the mast foot, so that the bolt could go up and down in the slot of the mastfoot. But when I walked up the mast the bolt was all the way and I started to pry out the mast foot. Question 1: is that normal? How do you avoid that.

So next I put a rod instead of  the bolt through mast foot and mast and propped it up with wood so the the lower and of the mast could swing freely in place. Walked the mast up again. This time the whole mastfoot just popped out to the front. It was only screwed into the laminate with 4 1/2 in screws. Question 2: is that normal? if so, how can that hold the forward pressure during mast raising?

How does your mastfoot/mast set up configuration look like? What is your mast raising procedure?

THanks for the help

Dirk

[Bob23]

Dirk:
   The foot on my 1985 23/2 has long slots in it. The mast bolt, provided it's not tightened, is free to slide up those slots during the raising ceremony. I have a feeling that someone replaced your foot with a non-factory part. I found a photo showing my mast foot:

Hope this helps,
Bob23

[mrtoad]

please discuss other items in photo

thanks, mr toad

[Bob23]

Mr. Toad:
   I'll do that over in the 23 room under "Continuing Advetures of Koinonia" so I don't hijack this thread, ok?
Bob23

[GrafLuckner]

My mast foot looks exactly like yours in the picture (btw. how did you get the picture in here? I can only post to the photobucket site; do you link them via url?).
I have a slot in the mast foot like you. But when the mast is flat/horizontal, then it is flush with the horizontal part of the mast foot. If you try to rais the mast, then the lower rear edge of the mast with the rope slot will dip into mast foot and the whole mast foot assembly will be pried off the deck.

[brackish]

a couple of possibilities that come to mind.  Is your mast an original factory mast?  Is the pivot bolt hole in the right place?  If your pivot bolt hole is too high there would not be enough clearance to cam over when you raise your mast and it would lock on the step and try to lift it.  The other possibility is that your bolt is too tight and the screws that hold your step on are not in good material and are not holding.  Fairly common in old 23's too to have a little rot in the reinforcing plywood in that area and for the screws to not get a bite. 

You should put a couple of 1/8" nylon spacers on either side of the mast between it and the step.  that should help keep it from binding.

[Billy]

How loose is your through bolt?

And if it is loose enough then you may just have a loose tabernacle. They are not bolted to the deck, just held in place with wood screws so in the event of a dismasting they will not rip up the fiberglass deck.

If you can get an extra hand stepping the mast, have the person stand forward of the mast and put their foot on the base of the mast while you lift.

[Bob23]

Dirk:
   Do you have a stern rail? When my mast rests on my stern rail, yes, the hole in the mast and the top of the slot do not quite line up. I must raise the mast a bit by placing a couple of cushions between it and the stern rail.
   If your mast foot is coming detached from the boat, that's not good. I have what appear to be rivets of some sort...no screw head are visible. It's kinda visable in the photo.
   After Irene, while my brother in law was helping me raise the mast, he stumbled, went sideways and bent the hades out of my mast foot. It not longer looks like the photo. Fearing it has loosened up a bit, this winter I'll remove it to make sure not water can intrude into the structural part of the cabintop.
Bob23

[GrafLuckner]

I think my mast foot base was rotted out. Look at this pic
http://s1125.photobucket.com/albums/l594/CPYOA/com-pac%2023%20pics/Shenandoah/?action=view&current=IMAG0714.jpg

looks like over time the pressure of the mast pushed down on the middle of the mast foot base and created a concave surface, popping the edge open, which in turn allowed water to get in - I assume.

So, what should I do? Cut it open and analyse. In the worst case scenario I guess I will have to rebuild the mast foot base layer by layer; plywood and filler and fiberglass. RIght?

[brackish]

Ouch!

I would suspect the water got in there first then the other damage occurred.

This, from one of our CPYOA contributors may be helpful to you.

http://s826.photobucket.com/albums/zz185/mss-cp23/Mast%20step/

[GrafLuckner]

YES! that's exactly what I need to do. I cant see who posted these pics though. How did you find them? Who is the person doing the repair. I'd like to ask them for some pointers. Thanks!

[brackish]

YES! that's exactly what I need to do. I cant see who posted these pics though. How did you find them? Who is the person doing the repair. I'd like to ask them for some pointers. Thanks!

I think those pics are from MSS, however, I think Stickbreaker and Hockeyfool have also done those repairs.  There should be a lot of knowledge on the site regarding that repair.

[hockeyfool]

Yes indeed - I did this project  last may- june  and cut the whole top deck off with a rotozip, then had to chisle  it off, and scrap/chisled the old wood, foam core, and plester resin out
real good.
I have pics available on the forum , if you have trouble , I will send a link .
Get west systems  g0flex 650 epoxy  because it is more flexible and  has viscosity better for filling voids with wood .
Oh, and I really recommend you buy the replacment epoxy-laminated backing plate from com-pac yachts .; it will save you a hellish amount of fabricating.

[GrafLuckner]

just some pics.



so after talking to some of you on the phone and offline, I see a number of approaches
1. cut off the whole box and rebuild it vs. cut of half the box, let half of the rim stand and fill it like a baking pan with epoxy etc
2. replace the backplate with the backplate from Hutchings OR put extruded PVC in there instead (bonds with epoxy, stronger)
3. dont open it up at all, just close the gap, patch the holes with marine filler, take bigger screws and go.

very different approaches....

[GrafLuckner]

OK, I emailed off list with a bunch of you and I also spoke with Hutchins.

Here is what I did so far. I cut just the top lid of the mast foot box. I dug out the rotted and wet material and dried the rest. Then I filled the space between the ply wood and the sides of the box with fiberglass. Now I have put the "lid" back on, taped the cut seams shut and I am filling through the center hole, where the mast should be, as if it were a baking pan until it is full. Picture to follow.

GL