[NYMarine1]

Just finished up my second Tiara right of passage (duck bill valve change being the first).  I successfully removed the steps leading down from the cockpit to the cabin on my 2003 35 Open so that I could either clean or replace the shower sump pump which was not keeping up with the shower drain.

Once the steps were out it was relatively easy to access the sump.  I cleaned it out with pressurized water and a shop vac to suck up the debris (there was a lot).  The old sump pump still worked but the breaker kept tripping so I put in a direct replacement Rule 800 GPH pump tied to the float switch in the sump box; works great.

While I was in the bilge, tested the forward bilge pump which does not have a manual switch; it was dead, so I also changed that out with another direct replacement Rule 500 GPH with an internal float switch.

I have been trying to get the steps back in for 3 days now without doing any damage.  The primary difficulty is lining up the existing holes in the teak with the holes in frame, as well as getting the back of the steps flush with the vertical bulkhead on opposite sides of the electric panel. 

It appears that when I got the boat the previous owner or dealer had already removed the steps as the back was not flush with the bulkhead and there are several sets of holes in the teak.  The best way so far seems to be to align the steps at an angle and insert the wood top piece that extends down from the cockpit into the groove on the top of the steps and and then tilt the steps back.  It just never seems to line up right.  The last ditch option would probably be to cut down the ground mounts near on the side nearest the bulkhead as it almost seems like they are warped.

Anyone had similar issues?  Any advice would be appreciated?