It is likely that I will need to replace the mast step on Ariel to accommodate a new mast following its removal by a dredger! The existing mast step is held in place by four machine screws. I have been able to remove two, however the remaining two are captive. There is no access beneath the mast step and so I cannot determine the presence of nuts holding the bolts. It may be that nuts were embedded in the deck structure and these are now spinning, preventing removal of the bolts.
Any advice regarding how the step is attached will be very helpful.

I had the same problem with my Super Seal (Parker built) when I replaced the mast due to a stress crack failure of the old one.
The yard doing the job suggested putting circular inspection hatches (big enough to get a hand in with the twist cover removed) high up on either side of the keel box inside the cabin. I agreed. I don't remember whether they found captive nuts but it clearly solved the problem .... if a little drastic. It made it much easier to fit the new pivoting mast step by fitting nuts instead of just screwing it on. But Bill Parker may have changed things in there in the later models?
Chris. Elsa SS #103

Dear Martin

We had the mast down on Delphine at the beginning of the season, and the guy, Rob, who works on her for us encountered a similar problem. I've asked him what he did and received the following reply (my italics so that it's clear which bit is Rob's advice):

The nuts are either encapsulated or underneath,
I forced the foot up to put some weight on the nuts and cause friction,
I then managed to slowly turn the bolts,
Fitting a new step will be tricky as the footprint might be different,
They will have to have some fibreglass work done to accommodate,
We bonded an aluminium plate in and I drilled and tapped to fit new step,
This is the only way I think,
They could drill the heads of the bolts off to remove,
Regards
Rob

Rob made a super job of it, including getting a specialist fibreglass repairer in to finish off where the existing fibreglass beneath and around the mast area was crazed. I think our system is now as strong as or stronger than the original because of the addition of the aluminium plate - but if the fibreglass doesn't look damaged, the solution proposed by Chris' boatyard could work if the holes on the new step line up with the original ones.

Good luck with Ariel

Gilliane

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Dear Gilliane and Chris,
Many thanks for your replies that are very helpful. Once a yard has been appointed to carry out repairs I will pass this information on to them. As a matter of interest , Ariel was one of fifteen boats damaged when a dredger ploughed into our moorings in thick fog. Fortunately the damage to Ariel is limited spars, pushpit, pulpit etc with only some minor damage on the bow.