Upper shroud turnbuckle size and other questions for a new owner

[have2ride102]

I just bought a, new to me, '91 23/3 and have a couple of boat projects to complete before I can get her in the water. While all this is going on, I'm juggling house projects due to flooding we discovered the day I brought the boat home. So, I'm trying to get boat parts ordered while dealing with the house and could use some help with parts sizes and other questions. The boat is in a storage lot for a couple of weeks until I can get back to her so it's difficult for me to go look for myself.

The upper shroud on the starboard side was missing all of the hardware below the shrouds threaded terminus, where the turnbuckle would attach. I'm missing the turnbuckle and toggle, anything else? What size turnbuckle and toggle?

During the inspection, the mast step plate parted from the boat while we were stepping the mast. I was surprised to find the plate installed with 4 3/4-1" stainless screws. Is this normal? I can easily fix the damage and re-install and re-bed things but I'm concerned this might not be a factory installation. Any recommendations?

I'm probably going to apply new anti-fowling before putting her into a slip for the remainder of the season. She'll be in fresh lake water until October then hauled out and trailered for winter storage until next spring. Any recommendations for bottom paint?

Thanks for the help. I'm enjoying the thoughtful and informative posts I've found on this forum so far.

Cheers.

[Bristol14]

For the shroud issue, I'd use the other shroud turnbuckle and toggle  to check the size and use as an example of what you need to replace in case the previous owner replaced the stock shrouds. Take the turnbuckle and toggle, assuming they fit the thread to Worst/West Marine or your local rigger to determine the size.

I may be wrong, but I don't think the mast step is held by thru bolts, at least not on my 23-2. I was a bit surprised, compared to ther boats I've owned, but I think most of the force is absorbed by your shrouds and stays, except during the stepping process. I'm sure others can confirm this.

[brackish]

Your upper turnbuckle should be the same size as the one on the other side but I'm hauling mine in the morning to do the bottom and I'll check when I drop my mast and pull the covers off the turnbuckles.

The step plate is just held on with the four stainless all purpose screws.  The plate is cheap and sacrificial, I know I mangled mine and had to replace it after the first mast lowering when I picked up my boat.  Think about it, if it was a heavy plate that was thru bolted and you lost control of your mast when lowering or raising, you will either bend a very expensive mast extrusion which is almost impossible to repair, and/or you will tear the plate off the step and take the glass and wood with it, another expensive repair.  Once the mast is up and stayed the lateral force at the step is very low.  Many folks have done a retrofit with a heavy thru bolt plate, but not me after losing control once on my initial lowering.

I've been using Blue Water Marine copper shield SCX 45 ablative with slime control (important for most fresh water) been pushing three seasons out of it with an in water cleaning every year.  You need to check the specs to make sure what you choose can stand an out of water time, some anti fouling paints don't like that.  My boat stays in the water all the time, only comes out for maintenance, and sadly tomorrow is the day.

[Bristol14]

Brackish is absolutely right about how the mast step is held on. Three boats ago I tore a six inch hole in my cabin top when a shroud parted and the mast fell to one side. Luckily no one was hurt and it was a lesson learned about checking and replacing standing rigging.

[brackish]

Additionally, the mast step is a little too wide for the mast and tends to close in on it and bind when raising and lowering.  If you don't already have them, pick up some nylon spacers at the hardware store to put between the step and mast.  makes lowering and raising a much smoother operation.  I have stainless washer outside step, stainless washer inside step, then nylon spacer.

[have2ride102]

Thanks for all the info. I'll have to grab the port turnbuckle and toggle to size them. You're right in that I shouldn't assume factory sizing for these parts.

Cheers,

Russ