Mountain Mariner
New Member
The bottom of the mast step tube on my 1986 Laser appears to be unglued from the hull. I believe the pocket that mast step tube rests in is intact. Everything else seems OK. With just the factory inspection port at the daggerboard trunk, my ability to inspect it will be limited. I would like to repair this now, rather than wait for the tube to tear out of the deck.
Having experienced a total adhesive failure on another, older Laser (https://photos.app.goo.gl/jGz4X6aTqG1TF2bY7), I am concerned about the condition of the remaining adhesive around mast step in this boat.
My plan is to:
1) drill (1/4”) a centered hole through the bottom of the mast step tube, the adhesive and the hull.
2) drill a pattern of holes around the central hole from the hull side.
3) “bent nail” scrape/remove adhesive from between the hull and mast step tube.
4) epoxy (West System 105) a cloth disk at the bottom of the mast step tube.
5) with the boat upside-down, pour thickened (406 colloidal silica) epoxy into the holes from the hull side, filling the void.
Comments?
Having experienced a total adhesive failure on another, older Laser (https://photos.app.goo.gl/jGz4X6aTqG1TF2bY7), I am concerned about the condition of the remaining adhesive around mast step in this boat.
My plan is to:
1) drill (1/4”) a centered hole through the bottom of the mast step tube, the adhesive and the hull.
2) drill a pattern of holes around the central hole from the hull side.
3) “bent nail” scrape/remove adhesive from between the hull and mast step tube.
4) epoxy (West System 105) a cloth disk at the bottom of the mast step tube.
5) with the boat upside-down, pour thickened (406 colloidal silica) epoxy into the holes from the hull side, filling the void.
Comments?