Paul,
I don't really know how the mizzen step is attached, but I would have assume with lag screws. There is really no reason to thru-bolt the step, unless you want to use it to pick up the boat when the step seizes to the mast:).

On Sat, Apr 19, 2008 at 3:55 PM, Paul Lefebvre < ([email][/email])> wrote:

When My mizzen mast was removed, the my mast step remained in the mast when the bolts sheared.

Do you access the bolts by removing the wooden plate attached to the laminated wood beam just above the engine. If so, I guess I can assume those green slot screws are going to break as soon as I put some force on them!!!

Also, any hints on removing the mast step from the mast would be appreciated. I having been dosing it with PB Blaster, but I am not sure of the best way to get some leverage on it. The only thing I can think of is either a slide hammer or come-along attached to a couple L bolts slipped into the bolts holes.

Thanks,
Paul

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John Stevenson
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Paul,

On my 1978 P-424, the mizzen mast step shoe is lag-bolted into the wood beam beneath the cockpit sole, which is to say
the “bolts” are like giant wood screws as opposed to thru-bolts. When I unstepped my mizzen mast last year, the shoe
stuck in the mast as yours did. The crane lifting the mast was powerful enough to first lift the stern of the boat a
foot or two out of the water, and then rip the old lag bolts right out of the deck in tact. They were rusted so I
replaced them with new, hot-dipped galvanized lag bolts when I re-installed the shoe. I don’t recall having a
particularly hard time tapping the mast step shoe out of the mast base after soaking it a few times with PB-Blaster as
you have done.

Tor

Ooooh!
know the pain
backs are a bitch

On Sat, Apr 19, 2008 at 8:22 PM, Paul Lefebvre < ([email][/email])> wrote:

John and Thor:

Thanks for the info on the lag bolts. I am glad I asked before I started taking parts off the beam. I will take a pair of vise grips to the remaining studs and hope they back out.

I will try my air hammer on the step tomorrow and hope I can get it to start to move.

Well, after running up and down the companionway steps into the salon over a few thousand times the past year ( The ones to the aft cabin are out of use because of engine work), what I was afraid of finally happened this afternoon. I got used to spinning around pretty quick and dropping down the stairs. Well this time I slipped ( I was wearing socks, as I had been all winter) and fell backwards into the hole. Luckily my elbows caught the sides and my back hit the oppiste side and I didn't fall all the way down. Back is pretty banged up but my diet of Advil and Tylenol is helping. I guess no more running on deck in socks!!!

Paul

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Paul, I spent this morning doing what you described below. They are in fact lag bolts. In my case there was just enough left of the stud to grip with the vise grips. They were pretty snug to say the least. I started by rocking (spinning) them forward and backwards till they were free to turn. One backed out with no issue, the other I had to pull up on while twisting. It was a bear to get out.

Hey, did you find a replacement step? I sent spects up to metalmast and have yet to hear back from them. I'm considering making one from a laminate of starboard (marine lumber).

Pulled my V-Drive brackets out to clean up and paint. Got the coupler off the end of the shaft and was able to remove the stuffing box. Managed to get the fuel tank on board, start work on the cradle next weekend.

Chuck

On 4/19/08, Paul Lefebvre < ([email][/email])> wrote:

When My mizzen mast was removed, the my mast step remained in the mast when the bolts sheared.

Do you access the bolts by removing the wooden plate attached to the laminated wood beam just above the engine. If so, I guess I can assume those green slot screws are going to break as soon as I put some force on them!!!

Also, any hints on removing the mast step from the mast would be appreciated. I having been dosing it with PB Blaster, but I am not sure of the best way to get some leverage on it. The only thing I can think of is either a slide hammer or come-along attached to a couple L bolts slipped into the bolts holes.

Thanks,
Paul

Boundless #28

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