Replacing the wood is out of the question. That would require a complete  
tear down of the deck and I don't think any of us want to do that. Filling 
the  holes with epoxy, allowing to dry and then drill new holes is the best 
way to  approach this. 3m4200 is an adhesive and I don't think it will flow 
readily  enough to fill the gaps and voids. I've had my Rhodes now for almost 
twenty  years and I have never ever damaged the mast step. Perhaps its 
because I don't  lower the mast to the stern. I lower it to the bow, eliminating 
the possibility  of damage to the step. If you have the factory mast crane 
you must lower it to  the stern. Just make certain the mast comes down on the 
mast crutch  or you will damage the pop top and the step. Also, don't  
forget to disconnect the pop top slider. :)
 
Rummy
 
 
In a message dated 9/13/2011 11:21:03 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  
sloopblueheron at gmail.com writes:

Rob,

I agree 4200 would be a good temporary fix until  tackling replacement of 
the
wood.

Rick

On Tue, Sep 13, 2011  at 10:28 AM, Lowe, Rob <rlowe at vt.edu> wrote:

> Rick,
>  Yes, you want to use something that will shear off.  I believe 3M 4200  
is
> the preferred product.  You want something that can be  disassembled 
(i.e.,
> will break loose) if need be.  If you think  about it, you only want the
> screws and adhesive to keep the mast step  stationary while there is some
> horizontal force on it when the mast is  first raised.  - rob
>
>
>  
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=21590&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&storeId=11151&storeNum=10104&subdeptNum=
10325&classNum=10327
>
>
>
>  -----Original Message-----
> From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org  [mailto:
> rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of Rick
>  Sent: Tuesday, September 13, 2011 9:40 AM
> To: The Rhodes 22 Email  List
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Mast Step Popped
>
>  Rummy,
>
> I did this repair using epoxy.  The subsequent  tear-off of the plate 
caused
> extensive damage, including a crack that  ran all the way to a cabin rail.
>
> Are you sure Stan uses  epoxy?  I suspect he uses something with shear
> strength more  approaching wood.  Plus, the underlying wood can't have rot
> and  there can't be any voids between the wood and gelcoat.
>
>  Rick
>
> On Tue, Sep 13, 2011 at 9:00 AM,  <R22RumRunner at aol.com> wrote:
>
> > Rick,
> >  I'm not sure where you are going with this. The repair that has been
>  >  mentio
> > ned has been done by many Rhodies over the  years. It is the best way to
> > repair the step. It is the repair  that Stan uses at the factory.
> >
> > Rummy
>  >
> >
> > In a message dated 9/12/2011 11:08:29 P.M.  Eastern Daylight Time,
> > sloopblueheron at gmail.com writes:
>  >
> > David,
> >
> > Your problem won't be the  epoxy holding with careful  raising and lower
> of
> >  your mast.  Your problem will be the damage done  by the epoxy when  
you
> > have
> > another mishap.
> >
> >  Rick
> >
> > On Mon, Sep  12, 2011 at 9:08 PM, David  Craft <Chsyhkr at gmail.com>
>  wrote:
> >
> >  >
> > > Rob,
> > >
> > > I was raising  the mast from  the back using the crutch that hangs off
>  the
> > > transom.
> > >
> > >  As we  started to raise the mast, we realized we need to manuever the
>  >  jib
> > > around a shroud.   He set the mast  down on back rail and  not back in
> the
> > >  crutch.  It was enough leverage, with the pop top  acting as a  
fulcrum
> to
> > > pop
> > > the plate  off.
> > >
> > > I  drilled out the holes  today.  The wood is damp but not
>  deteriorating.
>  >  I
> > > think it treated Southern Yellow Pine.   It  will be dry for a week
> here,
> > > enough time  for it dry well before  repairing.  The glass is intact,
>  > except
> > > for one spot around the  fore screw.   A quarter size piece, about 
half
> > the
> > >  thickness  popped out.
> > >
> > > I think the  epoxy repair should last for a good  while with careful
> >  raising
> > > and lowering......
> > >
> >  > David  Craft
> > >
> > >
> >  >
> > > Rob Lowe wrote:
> > > >
> >  >  > David,
> > > > Was this when you were raising  or lowering the  mast?  Which
> direction
> >  to
> > > > you lower to?  - rob
> > >   >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > >  From:  rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org
> > > >   [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of David
>  Craft
> > >  > Sent: Sunday, September 11, 2011 5:45  PM
> > > > To: Rhodes  List
> > > >  Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Mast Step Popped
> > >  >
>  > > > While setting our mast at a local lake the mast step  popped  off 
with
> > the
> > > > screws somewhat  stripped.  We reset it and  raised it carefully
> >  figuring
> > > > that
> > > > the weight  would  help hold it.
> > > >
> > > > While  taking it down, it popped again,  necessitating the repair I
> >  > expected
> > > > when it popped the  first  time.
> > > >
> > > > The boat is a 89, recycled  in  08.
> > > >
> > > > The step is secured  with three 1 inch  screws.   I am thinking of
> >  drilling
> > > > out the holes,  repairing with  epoxy,  drilling new pilot holes, 
and
> > > >   resetting.   I have heard suggestions from inserting lugs  to
>  drilling
> > all
> > > > the way  through and using bolts and nuts.  The  wall for the head 
is
>  a
> > > > support below the step, so drilling  through is  not advisable.  Can
> > longer
> > > > screws  be  used?
> > > >
> > > > Advice is  appreciated as I need to make this  repair in the next 
two
> >  > weeks.
> > > >
> > > > --
> >  >  > Regards,
> > > >
> > > > David  B. Craft
> > > >  Greensboro, NC
> > >  >  __________________________________________________
> >  > > To  subscribe/unsubscribe go to
> > > >   http://www.rhodes22.org/mailman/listinfo/rhodes22-list
> > >  >
> > >  > For the list Charter and help with using the  mailing list and
> archives
> >  go
> > > >  to http://www.rhodes22.org/list
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> > >  >
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> > >  > For the list Charter and help with using the  mailing list and
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> >  go
> > > >  to http://www.rhodes22.org/list
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> > >  >
> > >  >
> > >
> > >  --
> > > View this message in context:
> > >   http://old.nabble.com/Mast-Step-Popped-tp32444069p32452509.html
> >  > Sent  from the Rhodes 22 mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>  > >
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