mast splicing

[Russ L]

Hello all,
Good thread eh!
For a corroded & stuck fastener, try vinegar, not caustic, it can dissolve the white powdery stuff. If the mast is not anodized then a bit o' heat can work wonders.
On the subject of screws, oval & flat head can be considered equals mechanically, however oval are much more pleasing asthecially. Oval head screws can tolerate slightly different countersink depths and still look good.
On the practical side, you can assemble the splice and drill, countersink & tap without further disassembly. Pan head screws would normally require two step drilling (unless you are very brave and willing to try without making the tap hole too big) and bunch o' pan heads just doesn't look as nice.
The splice material taper AND rounded "taper bottom" are to prevent stress risers. It's a stress riser that caused the damage in the first place (the deck opening).

Cheers, Russ