A new NS30U owner just sent me this photo of how the previous owner had the mast step cut out of his boat. Can anyone tell me if this looks normal?? Also, someone in the past posted info on how to do this properly when it has to be removed. I'd like to see that again.
Thanks,
Joe Valinoti
S/V IL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
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I am of NO help in this matter except to suggest that this is one hell of a scary photo.
Cheers,
Ernie A. in Toronto
Joe,
I can not comment on whether or not that mast step looks normal for a 30 U but I can tell you the mast step on my 1981 30 classic does not look like the one in the picture.
I will take a picture of mine next time I am at the boat.
David
Spray 1981 30C #93
South Dartmouth and Westport Point, MA.
That is pretty much how the step looks in our 30U, same casting, same messy abundance of bedding compound. I question it having been cut out of the boat. Don’t know how you would do that without major damage to whatever is under it. Seems more likely the bolts were removed and it was pried off? Hope I never see ours like that.
I agree with David that this step looks like it was just pried off after the lag screws were removed, no cutting. I have no idea why so much bedding was used.
In any case I think removing the step is not such a scary job especially if you are forced to repair the other broken bolts. Recently someone else on the list posted that the plywood under their step was rotten. This is serious. But if your bolts are in healthy plywood, puuting it back together better than before should be no problem.
Photo of my 26C mast step , built in 81.
Tom
Why would anyone want to do this?
Brian McCuaig. NS30u
Whitby, Ontario
“Having a yacht is reason for being more cheerful than most." -Kurt Vonnegut
Regards to all that had responded to this thread. Having seen the boat myself last week, and after thinking about it, my thoughts were that the yard that pulled the mast screwed up. They've admitted it and are making good. Apparently, due to 4" of water over the step, they couldn't see the set screws holding the mast to the step and just went ahead and attempted to lift it. Yes, if it doesn't work, get a bigger hammer!!
Season's greetings all,
Joe Valinoti
S/V IL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
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Crap happens. When we were dismantling our boat in FL to have it shipped to MI, the broker we bought the boat through suggested we hire a rigging guy who supposedly knew a lot about Nonsuches to oversee removal of the boom, mast, etc. Turned out he knew about as much as I did. The yard pulled masts using a gin pole with a huge old human muscle powered multipart wooden block. On the first attempt the lone guy hauling on the lifting tackle actually started to raise the bow out of the water because the hired “expert" had neglected to remove the pin over the tang in the mast shoe. It all worked out eventually but it was a real clown circus there for a while. Some other of the crack staff down there forgot to include the wishbone boom in the shipment and it took about a month longer to get the boom to MI. Funny now, less so then.
I would take a close look at the mast. That would a good deal of force to remove that pad and it is possible that the mast has been damaged. I’d be looking for compression where the sling was located and movement in the area of the collars where a line should have been attached.
I KNEW it was a scary photo !! I think that Thor makes a salient point - the mast may have been damaged. It took one ginormous pull to get that step out.
Merry Xmas
Ernie A. in Toronto
The 4" of water over the step part is scary to me. I was down checking on my humble 26 today and did a quick measure. If I had 4" of water over my mast step I would be standing in water over my ankles in the main cabin. Did this boat sink or something?
I suspect the weep holes in that area were plugged up. I’m only getting this info 3rd hand. Good point, Ralph, and I will make that point clear to owner.
Joe Valinoti
S/V IL Gatto NS30U #221
Sea Harbour YC
Oriental, NC USA
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