Mast step corrosion

[iowasailor]

We own a 1984 38’ aft cockpit boat. Recent survey indicates mast step is severely rusted, making the boat unsailable. Any ideas welcomed!

[J.Kitchens]

Fix it or sell it really cheap.

[Idylles15.5]

Rusted? or electrolysis, pitted aluminum? Not a big deal actually. The bottom of the mast will usually be corroded too if the mast step is bad. Had the same situation on my 15.5. Cut two inches of the bottom of the mast off until solid clean material. Made a block of GRP 2 inches thick to make up for mast cut. (this means your rigging length doesn't change when you put the stick back in.) Go to and good local machine shop and have them mill you a copy of the old step. CNC machined or just an interior cross welded to a plate the same thickness of your old step. Make sure to put in a weep hole at bottom of the mast and ground.

[Don C L]

More info can help. Which boat? I am guessing you are referring to a steel plate or framework under the mast and not the mast itself?

[Idylles15.5]

Oh, obviously the block material gets bolted down first then bolt the new step to the GRP or solid aluminum spacer block. Compression will be spread evenly.

[coopec43]

Looking at other posts you are not alone with this problem.

Mast base corrosion: Repair or shorten? - Cruisers & Sailing Forums
www.cruisersforum.com › ... › Deck hardware: Rigging, Sails & Hoisting
Jan 9, 2017 - 15 posts - ‎9 authors
Just dropped the mast on my Albin Vega this weekend, the corrosion at the base is ugly. My initial plan was to repair it by wrapping the base in ...
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Corroded mast step 7 posts 15 Apr. 2008
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https://www.google.com.au/search?sou....0.P17r0gEcFUc

Clive

[skipmac]

The mast step in my Pearson was steel and the mast of course aluminum. The step rusted and the base of the mast corroded due to the galvanic reaction between the Al and the Fe.

Did the same as Idylles15.5. I cut 3" off the bottom of the mast, built a step 3" taller from UHMWPE, lag bolted the step to the keel, reinstalled mast, all good. Not a really difficult repair.