Re: Broken Mast Step

Posted by Timmo on
URL: http://uk-hbbr-forum.61.s1.nabble.com/Broken-Mast-Step-tp3484417p3484663.html

Bronze is certainly a fairly soft metal to take the strains imposed and only two screws with no glue does seem too little fixing. Stainless steel screws are harder (though more brittle) so may hold better. Others may have better advice based on a greater understanding of metallurgy.

I'd include some epoxy in the fixing. The mast step in my Acorn skiff is simply epoxied in place and hasn't shifted yet, though it may not be placed under the same strain as yours.

I'm also a fan of hardwood dowels. Glue the step in place, drill straight through for a couple (or more) dowels and glue them in. It would be a good way of reusing and sealing the existing screw holes. The dowelling will help stop lateral movement and reinforce the epoxy fixing. Wood in wood is generally less likely to cause long term issues with water penetration, rot etc. than metalwork. Hard to undo though!

Paul's suggestion of adding a hardwood cap to the hog and attaching the mast step to that (glueing and dowelling) sounds good. Should there be future problems you wouldn't be taking more chunks out of the hog itself.

Tim.

On 6 Nov 2011, at 13:30, adminHBBR [via UK HBBR Forum] wrote:

> I suggest you glue and screw some hard wood to the hog, then you can use deeper screws. I prefer modern twin thread screws because they grip well.
>
> Paul