A Step Up.

One of the biggest projects we needed to tackle this week was getting 15 aluminum, folding mast steps installed all the way up the mast.

Using the iPad as a level, I guess there was an app for that.

There was two ways to attach the steps to the mast, rivet or machine screw. We had hoped to go with  riveting, drill a hole, rivet it in, done. Of course there was no where we could find 1/4 inch sized, stainless steel rivets so we had to go with option number two. 

First Mark needed to drill four holes in the mast per step.

Next he needed to hand tap those holes.  I had no idea what this meant but apparently it is a kind of drill bit that has grooves around it and you slowly turn it the hole you've drilled and this puts the indented threads in the holes. Next you cover your screw with lock tight and screw it into the holes...

... And an hour later you've got yourself a mast step.

Folded.

This was a huge job. Each step took Mark an hour to do and of course it got harder every step he had to go up, the wind is worse higher up and every time someone touched a stay or stepped off the boat or a motorboat would speed by and the wake would sway the boat, Mark had to hold on for deer life. We alternated them from one side of the mast to the other and used a climbing harness attached to a halyard to hold him up there. His tools were lifted up in a bag on another line.

15 hours over three days and we have a job complete, now getting up the mast is a breeze, which is good because Mark will be spending a lot of time up there in the upcoming week, installing lazy jacks, wind system and the radar.

Such an exhausting day.