Got to raise a mast step

[MikeR]

Here's the story:

Pearson 10M 33', 12,500lbs
Alum spar 5"x9" oval
Fabricated steel mast step
Sits in bilge water, aluminum corrodes.
Plan is to build a 'platform' for the mast step approx 2.25" high. Cut that much off the bottom of the spar.

How, what shall I build the platform from?

All ideas welcome.

Cheers,

MikeR

By the way. a belated thank you to Brion for his support of the Rocking the Boat-Little Neck Bay Regatta. Thanks to folk like him, we raised $6,000 for this worthwhile organization. Check out www.rockingtheboat.org

MR