My alumminum mast step has gotten an impretion of about 1/16 to 1/8th of an inch from my mast. As well my masts bottom edge has become rolled and diformed. Also the pin that fits through the mast and rests in the step has grossly diformed the hole in the mast that this pin fits into. I would like to know if this is a problem others have had and how it may be fixed. I have thought of putting a hard ruber mount between the mast and step to take up the amount the mast has dug into the step over the years. Or drilling the mast hole round again and fabricating a steel sleeve for the mast pin to slide through. At any rate I believe this has shortend my mast enough so that most of my turn buckels are at the ends of there throws. HELP!
azazz@ix.netcom.com
Typhoon Mast step/mast
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Serge Zimberoff
Re: Typhoon Mast step/mast
Something more than 1/8" wear must have occurred to take up all the adjustment in the turnbuckles. My mast was in similar condition when I purchased my Typhoon. A friend who is a machinist reinforced the leading edge of the mast with a 3/16" aluminum plate formed to match the mast and welded in place. This seems to be the primary contact surface between the mast and the step. He also filled and re-drilled for the steel pin, locating it correctly for the slot in the step. That slot had not been harmed or we would have rebuilt it also. A new stainless pin was inserted into the mast.
You have to be very confident with a machinists' work to give them such a responsibility. If you have such a resource, the step can be corrected and the fitting on the base of the mast also repaired to match. This isn't something to be undertaken casually. Correct welding of these parts must be done by someone who is a perfectionist.
Also, I don't think it is anything that a hard rubber insert (or nylon or whatever) is going to address.
There has been no movement or wear at all in mine since it was corrected. Poorly adjusted rigging must have been the cause of the problem in both of our boats.
serge@srtrop.com
You have to be very confident with a machinists' work to give them such a responsibility. If you have such a resource, the step can be corrected and the fitting on the base of the mast also repaired to match. This isn't something to be undertaken casually. Correct welding of these parts must be done by someone who is a perfectionist.
Also, I don't think it is anything that a hard rubber insert (or nylon or whatever) is going to address.
There has been no movement or wear at all in mine since it was corrected. Poorly adjusted rigging must have been the cause of the problem in both of our boats.
serge@srtrop.com
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Serge Zimberoff
Re: Typhoon Mast step/mast
(The following should be inserted after the first sentence of my other reply to this problem.)
The usual cause for total lack of tension in the shrouds is when the cabin top begins to collapse beneath the mast step. This is ultimately due to the fact that there is no compression post below the step nor are there any other reinforcements provided. If this is indeed found to be the case, it should be corrected prior to doing work on the mast.
Serge
serge@srtrop.com
The usual cause for total lack of tension in the shrouds is when the cabin top begins to collapse beneath the mast step. This is ultimately due to the fact that there is no compression post below the step nor are there any other reinforcements provided. If this is indeed found to be the case, it should be corrected prior to doing work on the mast.
Serge
serge@srtrop.com