Mast step

[Stephenbe]

Hi all:
     I recently noticed that the mast step on my 1982 CP 19
is loose. I pulled the screws out and filled the holes with epoxy thinking that I would redrill them and then reset the screws. Then I thought that I might try through bolting the mast step through the cabin top. Tonight I was reading another web site that said that would not be a good idea since if the mast did come down it could do massive damage to the cabin top. Does any one have an input as to what is the best repair?

[mgoller]

Hey Stephen,
Ok, I've never told anyone this, so just between us.  I ripped my CP19 bracket out twice!  Once I was letting down the mast myself - it got away from me went sideways and I was using a gin pole that kind of didn't lay flat down to the cabin top.  If I was going to pry out the step that was the way to do it.
I bent it back to shape, put the wrong caulk stuff on it,( literally I used some sort of bathroom caulk from my shed), and screwed it back down.  I figured the pressure on the step is mostly downward anyway.
The next spring when I was raising the mast, it got away from me, fell sideways and popped the step out again.
So, I bent it back to shape, got some 3M marine sealant, bigger stainless screws maybe number 10 wood screws about 1" long.  They bit into the chipped out holes real good and fastened that baby in.
You're right, you don't want to drill through.  The screws will hold lateral forces and the sealant will pretty much glue it down.
So how many more times can I be stupid and rip it out?  Not sure I'll keep you posted.

[Stephenbe]

Thanks much, that is just about what I figured. I will be single handing a lot and I have roller reefing so I wish there was a more fool proof way to raise the mast.
I live about a hundred and ten miles from the ocean so I have to have a trailerable boat. My past boats have been in the 23-26 foot range. Up till five years ago we lived beside Penobscot Bay in Maine and I could go sailing whenever I had the opportunity. That is all different now that I am semi retired and living in the south. back then we had the mast stepped with a crane.