[Rhodes22-list] failure of mast step

[Mary Lou Troy]

Hi Richard,
The only failure we've experienced in 15 years of raising and 
lowering the mast is when we had an improper set-up for raising and 
lowering - failure to push the poptop slider closed which pried up 
the tabernacle. When that happened the set-up worked as it was 
supposed to - it pulled the screws up out of the cabin top. They 
didn't break but if I recall correctly they bent and we replaced them 
- probably with stainless but I don't remember. As Rummy says the 
repair itself was simple: a bit of epoxy and new screws. May have 
been some caulk involved. The only time those screws take any load is 
during mast raising and lowering.

Best,
Mary Lou



At 02:14 PM 3/20/2012, you wrote:
>I use Stan's mast crane system to raise and lower my imf mast. It 
>works well but I see that the part that takes the greatest stress is 
>the mast step or tabernacle. It's fixed to the cabin top by screws 
>which seem to be a non stainless steel metal. These have been out in 
>the weather for quite some time and are subject to corrosion. Has 
>anyone had these screws fail which would allow the mast to fall? 
>Would it be a big project to replace them with stainless steel? 
>Another possible problem is that the cabin top portion that the 
>screws go into has deteriorated from water leaking into the area 
>although that doesn't seem to be a problem in my boat. Any thoughts on this?
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