Hi all - I've been reading up on this mast step / truss issue. It was something I was concerned with and a little suspect of when buying the boat recently (1973, #64 I believe). But she was a great deal and I really love the boat
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
All signs point to this needing to be done this winter. There was apparently a patch on the front of the keel shortly before I bought the boat, and the area under the sole just aft the mast is all brown / rusty. When putting my fingers in the little slot above the resin, there is quite a bit of chunky, wet, rusty stuff there. I appear to be hitting some steel (poking around with a long screw driver), but no idea how much is actually still there. I can't see much through the peep hole or slot, but I'm seeing enough warning signs to be concerned.
If one had to guess on a cost to have this done professionally, what would be a range I might be looking at ? Any ideas ?
If the cost was too high to do it all, then I'd look at alternatives... I have a yard that will let me haul out for any length of time, they un-step the mast too for a "nominal" fee $150-ish. I think I'm up to the challenge of cutting into the sole and digging the resin and old truss out (just might take me a few more hours than some of you). I have a fabricator that could build a new truss. It's the fix-it (right) part that concerns me though.
Just trying to get a handle on what I'm really in for here.
Thanks
Krystin