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

[NormanS]

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!

I would have thought that the holes for the rivets would have absolutely no impact on the strength of the mast. I have in-mast furling, and Selden have put great big access holes in the sides of the mast. So far it has stayed up.

As you say, each to their own. Personally, I like to see mast steps on a boat. It makes me think that the owner has given some thought to the "What Ifs?". In that way, it's a bit like life rafts, anchors, and bilge pumps. (For some reason, I can't insert a smiley here).

 

[john_morris_uk]

Interesting how people view theses things.

If you don't like the aesthetics at least be honest, but windage weight and halyards catching are excuses. I fitted mast steps and haven't noticed any extra noise, they fold flat so windage isn't a problem and the occasional halyard snag is easily flicked off from deck level.

I climbed the mast only yesterday to reeve a new halyard. No more finding winch monkeys to slowly grind me up in the bosun's chair. Daughter tailed a winch as safety as I climbed.

 

[knuterikt]

Interesting how people view theses things.

If you don't like the aesthetics at least be honest, but windage weight and halyards catching are excuses. I fitted mast steps and haven't noticed any extra noise, they fold flat so windage isn't a problem and the occasional halyard snag is easily flicked off from deck level.

I climbed the mast only yesterday to reeve a new halyard. No more finding winch monkeys to slowly grind me up in the bosun's chair. Daughter tailed a winch as safety as I climbed.

But you must admit that there is a difference between
this

and this

 

[john_morris_uk]

But you must admit that there is a difference between
this

and this

I agree. Ours are similar to the second picture.

 

[AndrewB]

30 years ago I was extremely grateful to have mast steps when the wind piped up out of nowhere, the spinnaker took over and its halyard jammed firmly at the mast head. With the yacht urgently threatening to demolish Calshot Castle at 8 knots, I was straight up the mast, no safety line, knife clenched between the proverbials, retrieving the situation with a wild slash that dumped everything bar myself in the sea.

Ah, youth! (as Conrad might have said). These days such heroics are well beyond me and I no longer have mast steps.

 

[Coaster]

The only problem we had with our mast steps was the main halliard catching when the mainsail was waiting to be raised and the wind was aft of the beam. Without tension on the halliard it tended to blow around three or four steps. Then, when hoisting sail, it remained caught on the steps.

I solved the problem by adding a downhaul line. This is tied to the mainsail halliard shackle, runs down to a turning block at the foot of the mast and aft to the cockpit where it passes through a clutch, next to the halliard clutch. With the downhaul clutched the main halliard can be tensioned, which stops it wrapping round the steps. When hoisting in gusty conditions I keep some tension on the downhaul whilst pulling/winching the halliard.

A second benefit of the downhaul line is that we can drop the main more quickly and, together with lazyjacks, keep it tidy and secure in windy weather.

I certainly wouldn't want to be without our mast steps. There is no noise from them and Johntheyachty's comments about weight are spot on.