Pearson Yachts Forum
General Category - Pearson Owners and Enthusiasts => General Discussion => Topic started by: chuck stas on April 12, 2022, 09:53:08 AM
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Good Morning, I'm trying to get some info on a part for a 1983 p303
At the bottom of the mast there's a bracket holding the mast onto the keel in the bilge area. it seems rusted, anyone know it I can buy the replacement part or do I need to have it made ??
any info would help.
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You'll have to have one made. Its not a complicated job. I had a new mast step for my P323 made by Carter Fabrications in Millersville, MD out of 1/2" aluminum plate.
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Thanks for the info I'll look the up.
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Dolce_Vita, Thanks for the fabricator that did your mast plate as I am not sure whether I need one... yet!? I have what I believe to be superficial rust on mine when I inspected it. Most of the plate still has what looks like epoxy paint from when it was blasted and repainted 5-6 years ago. There may have been some welding rebuilding done on it as I was rubbing around on it and felt like there was some weld buildup from maybe where there was previous pitting. However, I see you went with Aluminum; would this because of elimination of dissimilar metals? How has yours been holding up and did you coat it with anything or anodize it? in the meantime, before I pull the mast for a demanding reason, I will clean mine up and epoxy paint it to keep on top of its maintenance. I am interested in your thoughts!?
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David,
The yard painted my aluminum mast step with Awlgrip. This has held up perfectly at the step/mast interface, but there is some surface corrosion around the stainless steel lag bolts and washers that secure it to the keel, as I did not provide any additional galvanic isolation there.
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Ed, I think this is the case for the boat I am buying; it looks painted with a high-quality paint too. I will take a picture of it when I go back for the survey. Mine is definitely steel and the rusting (superficial, at least at this point) is along a weld line - the rest of it 90% looks really good. It could be associated with the bolting like yours, so I will take a closer look. I may go ahead and have one fabricated out of aluminum like yours, it is a good idea. Not sure if the fabricator needs it in hand to copy or is there a drawing/specs out there? I would like to have one on the shelf for when I do pull the mast, but for now I will clean this one up and epoxy paint it as my first project when I get the boat home! Thanks for the fabricator as I have added them to my references!
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Carter did not make or keep plans for the 323 step, unfortunately. When I did mine, galvanic corrosion had badly eaten the bottom of the mast, requiring the removal of 4" if it. The new mast step had to make up this difference. I sent Carter the old rusty steel step plus the cut-off mast section and they used them as a pattern.