Mast Step

SEARCH does not comne up with an actual thread.
There is a thread called "Mast step / Core",
but it deals with the cabin deck underneath the mast step.

There have been discussions, and ole fisheye here part of them, but
they were part of other threads. And a real chore to find again.

The A/C mast step upon which the cast aluminum insert in the mast base was attached to, mortised into
is - according to the one litlgull has - a 1" thick high tech thin veneer phenolic disk.
It to this day shows no sign of deterioration even though underneath it in the composite deck some of the balsa core was rotten. Fresh water inside the mast getting into unsealed wire holes, no doubt.
But some owners have had problems with these mast steps.

GAROLITE:
As you know Tritons have the same mast extrusion as the A/C. And basically the same maststep setup.
So when the ALBERG FLEET breakfast this last Sunday turned to that subject, there was animated discussion about how that corrosion welded casting was gotten out of the mast end.
At least two Triton owners admitted to having sawzalled 2 or 3 inches off the damn bottom! No kidding.
There are probably a few tedious ways to get it out of there - and still keep the original length of the mast.

What was really interesting is that I could hear the code "G-10" being bantied about.
And Mike pulled out some 8X10 copies of what he was doing on his mast.
G-10 refers to an epoxy grade - M-110 hard - Exterior Garolite that looks like green polyester frp.
This 1" Garolite is made with fiberglass cloth and epoxy resin. (McMaster-Carr pg3587).

Mike made a nice circular base like the original mast step AND a plug heel fitting that fits into the bottom of the mast out of this stuff. He was also incorporating a four sided s.s. block turning plate.
I didn't get a chance to find out how he was going to attach what to what, but it's sure to be very straight forward.
Mike had added a couple inches of pvc tube to take internal mast wires thru the deck as designed.
I'm of the persuation, like some others around the table, that electric wires and coxial should come out the side of the mast and enter the deck thru watertite fittings. Inside the mast should be able to drain out on the maststep.

Not exactly what your talking about ebb, but these two photos cover the extremes!!!
Before I would saw off the mast I would drill a series of 1/4" holes into the cast base , knock out a section and then repeat the process. Once a large enough section is knocked out attack it from the side take a sawzall and cut a slot as close to the edge of the mast as possible , from the center out and then a couple off smacks with a chisel from the side and it will bust into pieces.

Carl,
Golly, hesitate to call that bracket in the second photo anything more than a mast utensil.
Hinged mast devices are often called tabernacles for some reason, some reason beyond practicality, maybe because it's a receptical for a precious object.

Triton Mike's halyard turning plate is bent up with holes on all four sides.
If every line is led aft to the cockpit you can't have too many blocks at the mast base.

Interesting to see the base you show seems to be leaning aft.
By measure off a drawing in the Class Association Manual,
The Ariel mast leans AFT BY THREE INCHES at the masthead.

Triton owners lean their mast forward,
to get their weather helm under control.

1960s plastic tape was used under the mast track on Ariel 338.
The tape is brittle, but there ain't no corrosion.
Same material could have been used to slip the heel fitting into the mast,
and it would be lke unwrapping a Reeses getting it out in 2011.
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ______________________________
RECOMMEND:
Capt'n Pauley www.thevirtualboatyard.com has an ongoing DIY web site full of great tips for boats of our vintage.
He has a 1965 26' Columbia with a mast step like ours and has a non-corroding solution for using that stainless turning plate by isolating it with Garolite 10 and fabricating his plug (heel fitting) with starboard (a chunk of polyehylene).
google> Building a better mast step: Capt'n Pauley on aluminum and...

It's a good place to start a controversy. Diagrams and photos.