Yes, I've tried to research a bunch of mast step postings on the forum, but haven't found an answer to my problem. Perhaps this thread will succeed? I was given a Laser with a mast step that won't hold water, just pours right through. I put in an access port and have determined that the mast step itself is separated from the base of the mast step. I've seen postings on how to glass in this area, but I have three questions first:
(1) Is the mast step cylindrical section supposed to have a bottom to it? When I wiggle the mast step [slightly], I can see that the bottom of mast step is the hull / rectangular section itself, i.e. no end cap on the mast step. Is this normal? Or did the previous owner put out the bottom and now the mast rides on the re-inforced hull area?
(2) Should I attempt to put in some fiberglass on the inside at the bottom to build up this area or should I just glass in the bottom of the step to the rectangular reinforcement on the hull?
(3) Is it better to put a Bondo-type hardening-type putty between the bottom of the mast step in the annular region between the step and the rectangular reinforcement before glassing that area in, or should I just lay up numerous layers of glass to mate this interface?
Thanks for your help. It was a bit of surprise to me to see the cylinder completely detached at the bottom.
(1) Is the mast step cylindrical section supposed to have a bottom to it? When I wiggle the mast step [slightly], I can see that the bottom of mast step is the hull / rectangular section itself, i.e. no end cap on the mast step. Is this normal? Or did the previous owner put out the bottom and now the mast rides on the re-inforced hull area?
(2) Should I attempt to put in some fiberglass on the inside at the bottom to build up this area or should I just glass in the bottom of the step to the rectangular reinforcement on the hull?
(3) Is it better to put a Bondo-type hardening-type putty between the bottom of the mast step in the annular region between the step and the rectangular reinforcement before glassing that area in, or should I just lay up numerous layers of glass to mate this interface?
Thanks for your help. It was a bit of surprise to me to see the cylinder completely detached at the bottom.