retrofitting a mast step

[Wade]

I need to pull my mast for rewiring and assorted maintenance that is past due. My mast is not excessively robust. less than 40 ft long and I can carry it by myself with rigging attached.  I will probably have to bite the bullet and hire a boom truck to get it off the boat this time. While it is off I'd like to make a hinged step similar to my old Hunter 25.5.

I am thinking of removing existing step and shoe, creating a fore and aft spot for a hinge pin, bolting it to the mast bottom, using another plate to attach to boat and provide hinge plate. 

A poor description but not real complicated.  Am I missing anything? I want to be able to raise and lower the mast on my own the next time.

Below is a picture of the existing mast step. I hope.

[Leroy - Gulf 29]

I've seen hinged steps like you are discussing offered occassionally on e-bay. not really a whole lot different than a mast plate that the base of the mast is bolted through with a pin (Look at the Catalina 22 website).

[CapnK]

Hi Wade -

There is a company in California, Ballingers , who makes hinged feet that would work great for what you are doing...

http://www.ballengerspars.com/

and a PDF:

http://ballengerspars.com/HingedmastBaseInfo.pdf

I know that several of the owners on the Pearson Ariel site have installed/use them.

[Wade]

Thanks Capn, I checked it out. Theyare basically what I had in mind. I will post pics when its done. It's project 2037 in the list.