[C38] C38 Mast Base Repair

[Max soto]

Hi Ray,
Is common for the mast step (shoe) to weld to the mast  after years without pulling the mast..
The mast step is bolted through the sole to the wood mast base.. 
If I'm not mistaken, when Tom Troncalli pulled the mast on his boat, the mast came out with the step as one piece, the bolts were ripped from the mast base...  His boat actually was being pulled out of the water...
He had to made a little bit of fiberglass work and cut a couple of inches from the mast  because it was heavily corroded..
He made a spacer to compensate for this... 
He made his mast base out of fiberglass and added some ground wires for lightning protection...

I also remember hearing about someone who replaced the mast step without removing the mast.. The mast is not that heavy (around 250lbs) and the cabin sole supported it while the replacement base was made and bonded to the hull and underneath the sole.....
If removing the mast is your choice, some massaging with a soft hammer on the mast base is recommended in order to release it from the mast step and avoid some damage....

If this doesn't work, there is no other option but to pull the mast until the mast step bolts give up and get pulled from the base, just like Tom had to do.. 

I don't think that is your yard's fault... If both parts are married... There are not many options left.... The question is not if there will be some damage, but how much damage?....

Good luck! 


Hope this helps!

Max Soto A.
+506-8312-1367
Alajuela, Costa Rica

> On Jul 23, 2015, at 09:01, Robert G Stammerjohn <rgstam at md.metrocast.net> wrote:
> 
> Ray Torok:  Your response was GREATLY appreciated.  There were items not touched upon.  I understand that the glassed wooden base was covered with the cabin sole and then a metal plate of some sort to which the mast was inserted.  It is this metal base that I am seeking more information.  This plate, shoe, or what ever is the source of the problem that resulted in the intrusion of water to the wood.  The iron plate seems now to be married to the aluminum mast.
> A prior attempt to remove the mast pulled the plate up and cracked the cabin sole in the process and destroyed the integrity of the glass and entry of water.  The mast was not removed and the results of this effort were not fully know to me until sometime afterwards.  I was furious and should have challenged the yard with legal action.  Water over the dam.  I have tried to gain more information from Catalina Yacht in Largo Florida, but have not yet received a response.
> I have contacted a yard for the repair, but do not wish to proceed until I have a keen knowledge about the stack between the hull and the mast.  Your photos should be helpful.
> Thank again
>  
> Bob Stammerjohn
>  
>  
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