Europe Dinghy Mast Step Repair

   I'm considering buying an old Europe and have checked it over. All is good apart from the adjustable mast step which is not securely located in the hull. It consists of a sliding ally casting which runs in moulded in rails and locates on an adjuster rod, threaded through the mast pot with a hand wheel in the front buoyancy compartment. (sorry for the long description but I failed to take any pics).
The casting will not come out throughout the hole in the deck (too large) and the deck hole is of a size that I can get my hand through but only get my arm in to mid forearm (not enough to reach the mast step). There are two hatches in the bulkhead and one large one in the deck in front of the mast so access to the mast pot is pretty good but there is no hatch in the mast pot. 

I'm guessing I'll have to cut a hole in the mast pot and work through that but before (and if) I buy the boat, does anybody know how the casting is located/secured into the keel and adjuster rod (there is a slot for the rod but no apparent means of stopping it coming off the rod or rails) and how repairs might be effected?

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Sam.Spoons Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3398	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sam.Spoons Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Europe Dinghy Mast Step Repair Posted: 27 Apr 17 at 11:07am
	I'm considering buying an old Europe and have checked it over. All is good apart from the adjustable mast step which is not securely located in the hull. It consists of a sliding ally casting which runs in moulded in rails and locates on an adjuster rod, threaded through the mast pot with a hand wheel in the front buoyancy compartment. (sorry for the long description but I failed to take any pics). The casting will not come out throughout the hole in the deck (too large) and the deck hole is of a size that I can get my hand through but only get my arm in to mid forearm (not enough to reach the mast step). There are two hatches in the bulkhead and one large one in the deck in front of the mast so access to the mast pot is pretty good but there is no hatch in the mast pot. I'm guessing I'll have to cut a hole in the mast pot and work through that but before (and if) I buy the boat, does anybody know how the casting is located/secured into the keel and adjuster rod (there is a slot for the rod but no apparent means of stopping it coming off the rod or rails) and how repairs might be effected?
	Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"

Sam.Spoons Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 07 Mar 12 Location: Manchester UK Online Status: Offline Posts: 3398	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sam.Spoons Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 02 May 17 at 10:51pm
	Probably irrelevant now but to save anybody taking time to look into this I sailed the Europe over the weekend and decided it wasn't for me (basically, I'm not bendy enough to sail it comfortably around the corners and, if I'm honest with myself, I'm too porky for it....... lovely boat though, if I was a stone or two lighter).
	Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish"