Mast Step Project & Jason & Charlotte come to visit
Hello all,
We are going to step back a bit, not long but just a bit, to when Jason and Charlotte came to visit in December. Wow, once I think of it and the shock I had when I discovered dry rot it seems so long ago! It started small and grew to grand proportions with the dry rot creeping under the mast step. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! The short term plans we had were shot, we went into repair mode. In between the rain with the help of our indentured servants (Jason and Char) we were able to replace the mast step. Now, when I write it like that is seems like--well, no problem, what’s the big deal? This was actually a pretty big deal and yes, indeed, a pretty big and vitally important repair.
This is what we needed to accomplish: 1) build a new mast step, 2) slide the mast off the old mast step onto the new mast step, 3) take out the old mast step, 4) pray to who ever that there is no dry rot under the old mast step, and then last but not least, slide the new mast step back into position without dislodging the mast and sending it shooting through the deck. We decided we did not need to create a hole in the deck for a new hot tub at this juncture in time, so we proceeded with caution.
First, we secured the bottom of the mast with lines and loosened the rigging (some of you may be asking yourselves “why not just take the mast down?” Well, duh, I would have done that but..... 1) no cranes available here in Central America where we are on a river with little to no services, and...2) the dry rot, unfortunately was located at the precise point of the tabernacle system which is needed to assist in lowering the mast. Many thanks to Nutria Marina, for their part in completing this task. The toughest part of making the replacement mast step was locating a piece of wood big enough and strong enough. Nutria Marina made it simple by donating a nice piece of hardwood from their own stockpile. Any hoot--with the new mast step made and everyone’s help, we pulled it off without a hitch. With a little bit of confidence and the help of a good old fashioned hammer and a crow bar, there is nothing one can't do . Here are a few pictures of the before and after.
- Captain Jake
We are going to step back a bit, not long but just a bit, to when Jason and Charlotte came to visit in December. Wow, once I think of it and the shock I had when I discovered dry rot it seems so long ago! It started small and grew to grand proportions with the dry rot creeping under the mast step. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! The short term plans we had were shot, we went into repair mode. In between the rain with the help of our indentured servants (Jason and Char) we were able to replace the mast step. Now, when I write it like that is seems like--well, no problem, what’s the big deal? This was actually a pretty big deal and yes, indeed, a pretty big and vitally important repair.
This is what we needed to accomplish: 1) build a new mast step, 2) slide the mast off the old mast step onto the new mast step, 3) take out the old mast step, 4) pray to who ever that there is no dry rot under the old mast step, and then last but not least, slide the new mast step back into position without dislodging the mast and sending it shooting through the deck. We decided we did not need to create a hole in the deck for a new hot tub at this juncture in time, so we proceeded with caution.
First, we secured the bottom of the mast with lines and loosened the rigging (some of you may be asking yourselves “why not just take the mast down?” Well, duh, I would have done that but..... 1) no cranes available here in Central America where we are on a river with little to no services, and...2) the dry rot, unfortunately was located at the precise point of the tabernacle system which is needed to assist in lowering the mast. Many thanks to Nutria Marina, for their part in completing this task. The toughest part of making the replacement mast step was locating a piece of wood big enough and strong enough. Nutria Marina made it simple by donating a nice piece of hardwood from their own stockpile. Any hoot--with the new mast step made and everyone’s help, we pulled it off without a hitch. With a little bit of confidence and the help of a good old fashioned hammer and a crow bar, there is nothing one can't do . Here are a few pictures of the before and after.
- Captain Jake
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