Judy was kind enough to send me her new website address. Here is the link to plates, but visit the rest of her site too...much to be learned. t http://blumhorst.com/potterpages/mast_step_plates_.htm Tom Smith and Jane Van Winkle M15/345 -- Chukar Sandpoint, Idaho -----Original Message----- From: Steve & Diana Parsons [mailto:sparsons@canby.com] Sent: Wednesday, April 24, 2002 9:09 PM To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com Subject: Re: M_Boats: Mast-Step Hi Tom, Sounds like a good idea. Did you do that? If so, how much did you raise the step, and did you have enough travel in the stays to compensate? Steve ----- Original Message ----- From: "Smith, Tom" <Tom.Smith@itron.com> To: <montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Wednesday, April 24, 2002 1:22 PM Subject: RE: M_Boats: Mast-Step If you are going to the trouble of rebedding the mast step, why not install a deck plate at the same time. A plate gives you some nice options for attaching blocks, boom vang, etc. Tom Smith and Jane Van Winkle M15/345 -- Chukar Sandpoint, Idaho -----Original Message----- From: Howard Audsley [mailto:haudsley@tranquility.net] Sent: Wednesday, April 24, 2002 5:07 AM To: montgomery_boats@mailman.xmission.com Subject: Re: M_Boats: Mast-Step On 4/23/02 9:54 PM, "Honshells" <chonshell@ia4u.net> wrote:

Has anyone rebed their M17's (perhaps the M15's is the same) mast-step?

Was

it difficult to remove? What sealant did you use? Can anyone recommend any other mast-step/compression-post maintenance, other than rebedding the step for water-tightness?

Thanks!

_______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats

I did mine last year. It is important to note that the mast-step is over an area with balsa core. I was hunting for leaks, so I decided to go after this too. The bolt holes are either 1/4" or 5/16ths". I drilled those out to at least 3/8" from the top, and 1/2" on the bottom. I then used a Dremmel tool with the saw blade to ream out a core area between the two sandwich layers. This was filled with thickened epoxy that seals the hole and serves as a compression post or plug in the core area. The holes for the mast-step were then re-drilled and bedded with boatlife caulk. At the same time, I also sealed the core area exposed by the light socket plug, which is adjacent to the mast step. Actually, I removed every bolt that goes through the cabin deck core areas (there are several), drilled the holes out oversized, backfilled with epoxy, re-drilled and bedded. This included not only the mast-step and light plug, but also both handrails, a winch, and turning blocks and cleat for the topping lift. So far, the deck leaks have stopped. Howard _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats