I originally posted about a
Morgan 462 I am considering in this thread:
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...se-172921.html
I've followed up with the owner/seller (through the two brokers) about one major concern, the rebuilt
mast step. Below are my Qs and his As.
I'd welcome any opinions about the
work he describes having done on the
rebuild, particularly from anyone who's gone through having to have a
mast step rebuilt (and who hired a professional to do it) or from any
Morgan owners.
Thanks in advance.
His response to my first request for more info on the repair/what was done/why: "The mast step was completely rebuilt in 2012. The old one was cut out and a new one fabricated and installed. The stringer was cut to allow better access for the process."
His response to my follow up asking who did the
work: ""I did it myself under the supervision of the
Salt Creek Marina in St. Petersburg FL"
His most recent response to my follow up asking asking for the name of someone at
Salt Creek Marina who “supervised” the work and, again, asking *why* that work was done (this is what I'm interested in opinions about):
"Unfortunately I don't remember the name of the guy that was helping me, nor do I remember any of the other Salt Creek Marina employee names.
"The original mast step was 5-7 pieces of 3/4" plywood on edge with fiberglass sides and what looked to be 2x4's on top. The mast step was bolted to the 2x4's. It appeared that water that had entered the mast had rotted the 2x4's and plywood around and under the mast step so the mast started to crush the step. I noticed it because the rigging tension was off - too loose to be from simple stretch. In total the mast had settled 3/4 -1".
"After cutting out the old step and fiberglass I built the new step. I started with 4 lengths of cypress 4x4's epoxied together on end. This was not wide enough so a piece of 3/4" epoxy coated marine plywood was epoxied/screwed to the side. 3/4" stainless lag bolts were partially screwed into the top of each 4x4. Then the entire unit was covered in multiple layers of 1/4" fiberglass mat. Thickened epoxy was poured into the mast step area and the new mast step assembly was set in place and additional glass mat added to tie it to the hull.
"To provide a surface to bolt the mast step to; 7 2x4's (actual size) white oak boards were laminated together on edge and over sized holes drilled to accept the bolt heads sticking out of the 4x4's. This panel was set on and epoxied to the 4x4's and epoxy was used to fill the holes around the bolt heads. Then additional mat was added to connect the panel to the hull."