Greg,
My mast step IS through bolted. What is the best way to attach the mast step?
Stainless wood screws into a block of scrap? Or just take the bits off the through bolts?
I am interested to see this... I can't imagine an alternative beyond stainless screws.... There has to be another way though something that will allow a bit more flexibility....I am working on a totally different approach to the way the bottom of the mast is anchored to the fiberglass.The design will totally eliminate any damage to the mount should a shroud fail. I hope to have the design tested and ready to share by the end of the summer. For now it appears that screwing the mast step (?) to the deck is a far better idea than through bolts. While the base of the mast experiences some side and fore to aft pressure the major pressure is downward. The only time the strength of the screws is tested is when the mast is stepped. If the screws don't rip out when stepping the mast then you should have nothing to worry about.
I notice that a previous owner of my boat cut a slits in the mast set above holes though which the bolt holds the mast. The slits extend from the top of the step about half way to the bolt holes. I assume this is to allow it to break away if the mast carries away. Is that a common practice?
Sorry if I sound negative or sound like a know-it-all because I don’t. However, I do have a couple of additional comments.
The nylon nuts I suggested are 100% nylon. The nuts with stainless steel locking nuts you mentioned are just as strong as regular nuts and the nylon is only used to keep the nut from loosening once it is installed. There would be no advantage to using the locking nuts. The idea is for the nut to strip easily in the event of a de-masting.
If you have a through-bolt arrangement you may want to check the fit of the bolts where they go through the fiberglass. If you can easily pull the bolts through the fiberglass by hand that is a good thing. If you must screw them in and out be aware that the fiberglass is acting like a “nut” (a threaded hole). If the mast comes down it is likely the fiberglass will rip out. The solution (in my humble opinion) is to make the holes just large enough that the bolts will slide through easily so they will only be held in place using the all nylon nuts I mentioned earlier.