Steve, Judy Blomhorst (famous Potter sailor) went into some detail on her old website, which seems to be defunct. Dwyer makes them, but the ones Judy talked about weren't Dwyer. You might email her for info on her site or the plates. I'm pretty sure you can get her at this address: commodore@potter-yachters.org I haven't installed one, but I've contemplated it, and I certainly would if I was rebedding the mast step. As I recall, the small plate, the one you'd use for the 15, is 3/16 stainless. I'd be very surprised if you have to mess with the standing rigging. T Tom Smith Itron Inc. Phone: 509-928-1707 ext. 248 Fax: 509-928-2581 E-mail: tom.smith@itron.com Website: www.linesoft.com Knowledge to Shape Your Future -----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