INSTALLING STEPS ON MAST

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Zengirl2
Posts: 16
Joined: Wed Apr 03, 2019 1:49 pm

INSTALLING STEPS ON MAST

Post by Zengirl2 »

Can you install steps on a carbon fiber mast? If so, what screws do I use, ss? Any tips I should know. Is there another product that does the same job?

Grimsby_Alan
Posts: 89
Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2016 12:42 pm

Re: INSTALLING STEPS ON MAST

Post by Grimsby_Alan »

I wouldn’t think so. Any holes are going to weaken the structure. Get a good quality bosuns chair if you need to go up the mast.
1984 F32 Hoyt hull #41
Port Dalhousie, Ontario

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RadioZephyr
Posts: 259
Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2016 10:04 am
Location: Boston, MA

Re: INSTALLING STEPS ON MAST

Post by RadioZephyr »

Yes, you can. You need to use machine screws, NOT self-tapping screws. The carbon fiber takes a thread very nicely, just be careful not to break your tap! One thing to know: the CF threads, while well formed, tend to be slippery, and over time screws can back themselves out. The solution is to put a dab of 5200 on the screw before installing, so it has a bit of "grab" once it's in there.
Josh
Sunset Spy
F38, Hull #152
Boston, MA

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RadioZephyr
Posts: 259
Joined: Mon Jun 27, 2016 10:04 am
Location: Boston, MA

Re: INSTALLING STEPS ON MAST

Post by RadioZephyr »

Here are two of the three folding steps I installed last winter to replace the original aluminum ones, one of which had begun to crack. The new ones are 316 stainless. In addition to the fasteners, I also bedded them in 5200. The original steps were screwed into threaded brass inserts, but Paul Dennis assured me that this wasn't necessary, and that Freedom eventually abandoned this step in favor of drilling and tapping the carbon fiber directly.

They came out really nice looking, and they're plenty strong. I picked them up on Amazon for $21 each.
The bottom two screws on this one are threaded into the original brass inserts, and I drilled and tapped a hole through the step for a third screw after this picture was taken.
The bottom two screws on this one are threaded into the original brass inserts, and I drilled and tapped a hole through the step for a third screw after this picture was taken.
IMG_1757.jpeg (85.5 KiB) Viewed 2742 times
IMG_1806.jpeg
IMG_1806.jpeg (228.03 KiB) Viewed 2742 times
Josh
Sunset Spy
F38, Hull #152
Boston, MA

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