Mast Step Repair from Inside

[Sam Buschell III]

Has anyone done a mast step core repair from inside the cabin?
I am considering replacing the mast step gusset and replacing any bad core at the same time.
Thank you in advance.
Sam

[BarryE]

I did the mast step repair last year. Doing it from the inside would be very difficult. Not only do you have the carpet headliner to deal with but you've got the forward part of the centerboard trunk that supports the mast step from inside. Doing it from the outside was preferable for a number of reasons. 1) a lot easier to work on something that's right next to where you are sitting. 2) Gravity is working for you, just lay things in place and glue it up. 3) I wear bifocals, so looking up and close to what I'm working on makes me nauseous. 4) I had a lot of rot in the balsa in the forward cabin top so my repair was much more than the step area. If I can figure out how to post pics I will.

[BarryE]

I seems I did figure it out but down loaded the wrong pic. Try these instead.

[Pete]

You have a quite a job ahead but well worthwhile. Please do keep posting pics of your progress.

[Sam Buschell III]

Thank you for the information.
I will post my progress.

[BarryE]

Project began in fall of 17. Worked through the winter on the tear down. Started rebuild in spring after it was warm enough to pump epoxy. Finished in June for a July 4 launch. I learned a lot. Made some mistakes, had to redo some things, but am pleased with the results.

[Pete]

Nice work. Bet you're pleased. Another 7.9 saved !

[Stef]

I did it from inside. Very restrictive, but would do the same way.

I had soft area in front of mast. Closer exam showed small block on cabin top in front of mast was leaking into the core. Also had small leak from tabernacle area. Did it in winter. Removed fiberglass skin, and balsa, then put a small heater inside and let it dry out for a week. Then replaced core I removed, and reglassed. Used a carpet glue to replace carpet liner.

All is good and nothing on the outside had to be repaired.

[BarryE]

I thought about doing it from the inside. But after much, much thought, and recognizing my rank amateur skill level, concluded that I would be less likely to really screw things up from above.