[Rhodes22-list] mast step mystery

Sat May 23 12:15:01 EDT 2015

Rummy is right - no surprise there. He has tome of experience except it seems with letting the mast fall. In order for the mast to fall you only need to do something really stupid. That is surprisingly easy to do - I know that from personal experience. Thankfully my mast step tore away with minimal damage. The trick is to make sure the core is sealed from water access while still allowing the screws to tear out. Stan's recent suggestion makes complete sense to me - fill the enlarged holes with wood slivers (toothpicks?) and epoxy. The epoxy seals the core from water damage and the wood weakens the material so that the screws pull out. Genius. I would not rely on sealants under the step - especially high adhesive sealant like 5200 or even 4200. In my view that serves no purpose and makes removal a nightmare.

When you think about it the mast step does not really have much force applied to it except when being raised and that is a lateral force. There is no lifting force on the step so lag screws and bolts are completely unnecessary and, indeed, a huge problem if the mast falls. Go with the three screws as originally designed.

Graham 

-----Original Message-----
From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of The Rhodes 22 Email List
Sent: May-23-15 7:39 AM
To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] mast step mystery

The three screws are perfect for the job. In the slight chance you may do something stupid in the future, you want that mast step to break away from the  hull with minimal damage. Trust me, it happens more often than you would think.  There are a few voices of experience on this list......just not me.

Rummy

In a message dated 5/22/2015 12:37:34 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org writes:

Jefferson,
If you put up the mast and  leave it three competent screws will keep it in place if the mounts and core  are solid. If you plan on putting up the mast frequently I would suggest put  in a few more screws or ss lag bolts well bedded and very well sealed. If  water penetrates and freezes or rots the core you will have bigger  problems. That is my two cents worth.Fred Haag1974 Rhodes Phoenix,  Az.

Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S® 5 ACTIVE™, an AT&T 4G  LTE smartphone

-------- Original message --------
From: The Rhodes  22 Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org> 
Date: 05/22/2015   9:02 AM  (GMT-07:00) 
To: 'The Rhodes 22 Email List'  <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] mast step  mystery 

Jefferson:
Mine is a 76 and the mast step is held with  three screws only.

Graham 

-----Original  Message-----
From:  rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
[mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org]  On Behalf Of The Rhodes 22 Email List
Sent: May-22-15 8:10 AM
To:  rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] mast step  mystery

Hello all - finally getting ready to launch "Patience" here in  the far north (compared to everyone but Graham!) after a long winter and  some elbow grease. She spent 22 years on the trailer under cover, but seems  in remarkably good shape, which is a tribute to the quality of the boat and its parts. It has turned into a love affair, but my wife has accepted my  new mistress with equanimity, which is a first.

Now the  question:

My mast step is held in place with three screws set into  threaded receivers bedded in the fiberglass, but the base has two  additional screw holes centred under the mast, and no sign they were ever  used. The boat is a '76
-
does anyone else have a similar mast step, and if  so are there screws in those central holes for added strength? Being a  Rhodes it must mean something.

I'm going to launch her for the  season on Lake Memphremagog, which is a 25 mile long (and only 1 to 2 miles  wide) glacier lake that runs from Magog, Quebec to Newport, Vt. Winds are  variable because of the surrounding mountains and often die at the end of  the afternoon. I am trying out a 2.5hp
4 stroke that was hanging unused in  the boathouse, but expect that next summer on Lake Champlain and perhaps up  St. Lawrence River I'll need something more like a 6 hp.

The only  question mark left for the launch is - will the centreboard  go down????

I will keep you posted.

Jefferson
Patience  (1976)

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