Will removing mast steps seriously reduce the strength of the mast?

[NealB]

We've seen a boat today that we really like.

Beautiful looks and in lovely condition for her years.

One thing I don't like though, is that her alloy mast (probably of late 60's vintage), has been fitted with steps.

They look horrible, they must add windage, and I imagine they might be quite noisy with the wind in the right direction.

I also remember reading Geoff Pack's view: he found them useful for nipping up his mast on the frequent occasions that a halyard became snagged in a mast step.

So, I'd probably want to remove them.

Would doing so have serious implications for the integrity of the mast?

If so, what remedial work would be required? Would it help to put rivets in the holes?

 

[NormanS]

I would be in no hurry to remove mast steps. If you do buy the boat you will find them very useful. I don't have external halyards, so mine don't catch. I have folding ones on the mainmast, (excellent), and home-made ones on the mizzen, (perfectly functional, but asthetically not so good). If you do buy the boat, leave them alone, until you see for yourself, the pros and cons.

 

[Lakesailor]

The steps will already have had any weakening effect they may have via the drilling of the holes.
I would think replacing the rivets may marginally help, but any cracks that may originate from the holes will probably do so with or without rivets.

 

[Seajet]

NealB,

it may seem a silly question but the holes are round aren't they ?

Square or rectangular holes for fittings can be a major source of crack propagation in alloy unless the corners are carefully rounded.

 

[NealB]

I would be in no hurry to remove mast steps. If you do buy the boat you will find them very useful. I don't have external halyards, so mine don't catch. I have folding ones on the mainmast, (excellent), and home-made ones on the mizzen, (perfectly functional, but asthetically not so good). If you do buy the boat, leave them alone, until you see for yourself, the pros and cons.

Certainly, I would leave them for a season to see if they were really useful......but, to my eye, they do look a mess.

 

[NealB]

Thanks Lakesailor and Seajet.......so the steps may be useful in checking the shape of the holes, and the extent of any cracks the holes have caused.

 

[DanTribe]

I had a similar situation when I removed a behind the mast reefing system.
I asked Selden if the holes would cause weakness and they were surprising blase about it.
They said it wouldn't significantly weaken it and I could fill the holes with rivets for cosmetic reasons but not really necessary.
I didn't bother to fill the holes at first but found the mast became a huge flute in certain winds.

 

[Talulah]

On our first boat we fitted mast steps. Very useful.
To avoid the halyards getting caught we tied a line to a step at the level of the crosstrees , then took the line around the side stay and back to the next step one higher. Kept repeating this to the top step. This way the halyard couldn't get caught on a step but occasionaly we had people enquiring about this very unusual aerial going up the mast. It looked a bit like branches of a Christmas tree.

 

[NealB]

On our first boat we fitted mast steps. Very useful.
To avoid the halyards getting caught we tied a line to a step at the level of the crosstrees , then took the line around the side stay and back to the next step one higher. Kept repeating this to the top step. This way the halyard couldn't get caught on a step but occasionaly we had people enquiring about this very unusual aerial going up the mast. It looked a bit like branches of a Christmas tree.

Yes, she's got the string set-up already, which, sorry, but to me, just adds to the visual mess.

 

[NealB]

I had a similar situation when I removed a behind the mast reefing system.
I asked Selden if the holes would cause weakness and they were surprising blase about it.
They said it wouldn't significantly weaken it and I could fill the holes with rivets for cosmetic reasons but not really necessary.
I didn't bother to fill the holes at first but found the mast became a huge flute in certain winds.

Very helpful, thanks.

 

[greggron]

There are people on this forum who will think you are mad taking off perfectly good mast steps purely for aesthetic reasons.

I think you should take them off - they are clearly ugly and will have few practical advantages.

When you have taken them off, would you mind passing them on to me please. I care less about aesthetics and would cherish the ability to pop up the mast without all the shenanigans I now have with my ascenders and all that gubbins.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Pros.

Easy to nip up the mast.

Cons.

Windage, noise, weight aloft.

Your call.

PS - I've never had to go up a mast in a hurry - always been time to rig a bosun's chair. That's in 45 years of sailing, on and off.

 

[NealB]

PS - I've never had to go up a mast in a hurry - always been time to rig a bosun's chair. That's in 45 years of sailing, on and off.

Yes....similar time for me, too!

 

[Niander]

Funny world isn't it I want to fit mast steps so have been looking into it ...one bit of advice about the halyard catching was to use very strong fishing line up the outside of the steps...can hardly see it

 

[nimbusgb]

Funny world isn't it I want to fit mast steps so have been looking into it ...one bit of advice about the halyard catching was to use very strong fishing line up the outside of the steps...can hardly see it

Something else to sing inthe breeze!

 

[Richard10002]

I fitted steps as a matter of priority before setting off on my travels in 2006. They were useful on the occasions I had to go up the mast in port, and they made it easier for contractors to get up if they were doing some work for me.

I didn't have to use them in anger, but I was reassured that, if I did, they were there.

 

[KellysEye]

I would keep them they are the easiest and safest way to get up the mast, aesthetics don't come into it.

 

[Richard10002]

Certainly, I would leave them for a season to see if they were really useful......but, to my eye, they do look a mess.

Post a picture, then we can comment sensibly on your dislike of them. Perhaps they are truly awful, and we would all get rid these particular steps

 

[Johntheyachty]

Pros.

Easy to nip up the mast.

Cons.

Windage, noise, weight aloft.

Your call.

PS - I've never had to go up a mast in a hurry - always been time to rig a bosun's chair. That's in 45 years of sailing, on and off.

I've had mast steps for 18 years.
Windage - negligible
Noise - none
Weight aloft - negligible, a damn sight less than a radar reflector, or a radar scanner!

Leave them well alone. you'll be glad of them. As for catching halyards behind them , I could count on one hand the number of times that has happened. Also, it's nothing to do with going up the mast in a hurry, it's about making the job easy, ( and you still need to rig a bosun's chair!)

 

[NealB]

I didn't buy that boat, for several reasons!

I was, actually, asking purely for advice about whether the holes in the mast would have reduced strength.

I made up my mind some decades ago that I don't want / need mast steps, and that they look horrible (to my eye).

Each to their own, but that's my choice!