The mast step is a very strong structure in 9 ply - because if the mast step were to be broken, it would be nearly as much work to repair it as to build a new scow!

Consequently it has been over-designed, but as it is small, the extra weight is negligible.

Two cheek pieces either side of the mast carry the load back to the bulkhead at the aft end of the bow seat/tank. The cheek pieces are connected internally to the two face plates by 15x15 softwood fillets. I also added some glass cloth around the front corners to reinforce the front joint.

At the top and bottom of the mast step, ring-shaped doublers carry all sideways and fore-and-aft loads out into the seat and bottom shell over a wide area. These doublers are bonded onto the seat and bottom, so that the mast step can be put in place first and the seat and bottom added afterwards.

The centreline bulkhead through the bow tank connects to the front of the mast step - this joint is made before hull assembly starts so that the mast step and bulkhead form one assembly to be put in position.

A small piece of ply, the 'step bottom', is placed at the bottom of the mast step for two reasons:

• it is square to the mast, so that the foot of the mast can be made at right angles to the mast - otherwise the foot of the mast would have to be cut at an angle;
• it provides a wear surface for the mast foot - as the mast may be turned in the step, it could eventually wear through whatever it sits on.