I’ve got a related question… I replaced my mast step on my 2002 with the new style. At the time it seemed flush, and I popped the rivets. In looking at it now, the aft “hook” and the front are flush but for the majority of the step that is on top of the crossbar, there is about a 1mm gap (you can slide a business card under the step without interference except where the aft hook sits, the front part sits, and the dolphin striker is). It looks like the front part of the mast step is bottoming out on the cross bar that is preventing a fully-flush seating on the cross bar.
My thoughts are (and I’d like the expert’s views) 1. Leave it alone and assume there’s enough support at the aft hook, dolphin striker, and the front of the step where it meets the cross bar 2. Drill out the rivets and file the back side (underside) of the front of the step to let it sit about 1MM lower with the hope this gets a full seat on top of cross bar (also assume the rivet holes should more or less be Ok without having to redrill); or 3. Drill out the rivets and maybe open up the dolphin striker hole in the cross bar with the assumption that the current dolphin striker hole is causing the step to sit a bit too far aft. Again would hope the rivet holes would still be ok.
My biggest questions being would option 1 be strong enough and if not, is there likely to be a problem with using the existing rivet holes when seating the step more fully?
Thoughts?
Thanks, Daniel
_________________ H16 2002 "Islands" Sail No. 107432
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