Mast Footing Fitting

[Peter T]

I used bolts right through with a stainless plate on the underside. I could not buy countersink head 316 stainless bolts, so I put mine in the lathe and turned the countersink taper to the under side of the head of the bolt and also cut a slot ( enough to hold a flat screwdriver to stop them turning when doing up the nuts). The head of the bolts must be flush with the bottom face of the fitting otherwise the mast will ride on the heads and tilt the mast back as well as probably break something. As I had to replace all the insides of the mast step with marine plywood and filled with epoxy, where the bolt holes go through, I bored 1 inch holes through each layer of plywood and filled them with epoxy and then counter bored the bolt holes through the epoxy. This way, the ply will never rot out again as the only place that water can get in at the mast step is around the screws or bolts that holds the mast base in place. Also bolt holes slightly oversized to take the marine Sikaflex sealer used around the shaft of the bolts

[Andrew]

That's good advice Ozzie and Peter,

Used my old Duralac (seems to last forever, 30 yrs old?!), safety first though, nitrile gloves. (Bought some "Duralac green" few months ago at BCF, it's supposed to be safer) (however re-discovered the old yellow stuff after that..and didnt open the green)

That's a good idea to modify a hex bolt like that, small engineering shops could do it if no metal lathe.

Sealed the bolt top under step with silicone, and a bead of silicone all around the tabernacle edge as well.

[Ozzie]

Thanks Andrew. I hope I was not sounding overly alarmist with that warning but I think the tiny product warnings on product packets are pretty useless even though they are all that’s required by law. It’s worth noting all materials on worksites these days even if you’re servicing your boat in a commercial boatyard have to have full product sheets for all materials. I’m always aware reading this stuff as I’m a victim of my time in road safety, as I know too well what can go wrong often does. The number of hazardous substances that were “slathered around like marmalade” (to quote Oscar Wilde), in my lifetime is frightening. Organophosphates, DDT, asbestos, two pack paint, lots more, if you want to go into it. Scary shite really.

One good mate who was an apprentice mechanic in the early 70s recalled walking through clouds of brake dust blown out during brake servicing with air compressors. Asbestos Is still not properly handled. My neighbour had two young tradies cut an inspection hole in her house last year, fortunately (although that’s subjective) outside, through asbestos with an angle grinder. No masks, no warning, no brains, no nothing. I sealed the edges for her when she told me and got her to totally hose the whole area thoroughly but the damage was done. She has teenage kids too. Uninformed and untrained %@#wits. I wonder how often they are doing it. My father and father-in-law both died of asbestos related illness. Not pretty. Rant over.

All good advice here on mast foot. This forum is such an invaluable resource for future restoration of the boats.

[Andrew]

Best to be safe with hazardous materials Ozzie,

Raised my mast, and the mast heel clears the aft hex bolts .

Currently preparing for a sail, allot of stuff on the checklists being ticked off, boat is full of cruising gear. Weathers good.