Mast Step Repair - Lightning

[Flowerman]

I own an older Lightning - Newport Boats #279, boat # 11186. My boat originally had a wood mast, which was replaced by the previous owner. He installed a new mast step for the metal mast. I removed the mast step because the wood beneath this mast step is rotted. I am attaching a couple of pics. It looks like the old mast step for the wood mast was a fiberglassed channel (you can see it in the center of the rotted wood in the pic) where the mast was then wedged with wooden wedges. Are there any Lightning owners on Sailnet that know whether or not this is true? Or how I can proceed with this repair?

[CalebD]

I owned a Lightning (#11416) for a few years. Fun, fast boats with a large following of 1 class racers.

If you want to race your boat I'd consult with the Lightning Class website I linked for you in my last reply as the requirements are a bit rigid about weight, mast height, spin pole size etc.

If you don't want to race I'd just get another piece of wood, preferably something like Ipe (Ironwood) that wont rot and is hard as heck. Epoxy/glass the whole thing together and attach the mast step. The mast step on my boat was designed so you could adjust the angle of mast rake and it looks like yours is too. You want the mast to rake back a lot in higher winds.

Ipe Lumber- ipe wood's properties, toxicity, hardness etc.

Best of luck with your repair.
Email me if you like.