[Rhodes22-list] Mast Step Popped

[Lowe, Rob]

David,
I've done about the same thing.  I don't have a mast crutch and when the mast lays on the stern rail, it does want to pop the mast plate off.  I'm planning on building some sort of PVC mast crutch for this fall when we pull the boat.  Now what was really embarrassing and annoying is when we launched last spring.  I use the trailer winch to pull up the mast.  The mast was lying on the stern rail and my wife was cranking on the winch.  Damn mast would not come up so she cranked harder.  Pow!  There went the mast step.  The force had pulled the mast forward, not up.  Had to take the whole boat home to repair.  Now I've learned to elevate the mast off the rail before winching.  Sigh.  - rob


-----Original Message-----
From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of David Craft
Sent: Monday, September 12, 2011 9:08 PM
To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Mast Step Popped


Rob,

I was raising the mast from the back using the crutch that hangs off the
transom.  

As we started to raise the mast, we realized we need to manuever the jib
around a shroud.   He set the mast down on back rail and not back in the
crutch.  It was enough leverage, with the pop top acting as a fulcrum to pop
the plate off.

I drilled out the holes today.  The wood is damp but not deteriorating.  I
think it treated Southern Yellow Pine.  It will be dry for a week here,
enough time for it dry well before repairing.  The glass is intact, except
for one spot around the fore screw.  A quarter size piece, about half the
thickness popped out.

I think the epoxy repair should last for a good while with careful raising
and lowering......

David Craft