I bought a 1982 Hunter 27 late last season. I have been doing what I can through the winter as far as projects, I replaced the sink drain and thru hull in the head, I repainted the bottom, did a serious polishing on the hull and I have rewired and replaced the lights on the mast. I also ran new halyards since the mast is down. In the process I found the compression post rotted at the very top. The deck is solid from what I can see. I am rebuilding the post and plan to install it tomorrow. Anything else I should look at with the post before I reinstall it? I feel a slight depression in the sole where it sites but it is less then an 1/8 of an inch. The deck is flat when the mast is in place. Figured I would ask BEFORE I install her new post! She gets launched this week!
A newbie with an H27
- Thread starter Mike 1
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Lookin' good!! Not much help as I am keel-stepped. But I have read of several Cherubini mast support problems. Seems that almost always there is a problem with the cross-member support. I would recommend checking under the sole if you haven't already.
H27 Compression Post
Compression post failure is quite common in the H27. The deck usually is OK. Many owners/marinas replaced the post with aluminum. You have to check the stringer/crossmember at the base of the post. Also, not related to the post, but also replace the gate valves and the plastic thru hull for the head sink. Another good project is to recaulk the opening ports. I sailed a 1079 H27 for 15 years. Great boat. Good luck.
Compression post failure is quite common in the H27. The deck usually is OK. Many owners/marinas replaced the post with aluminum. You have to check the stringer/crossmember at the base of the post. Also, not related to the post, but also replace the gate valves and the plastic thru hull for the head sink. Another good project is to recaulk the opening ports. I sailed a 1079 H27 for 15 years. Great boat. Good luck.
Compression Post
Mike, you have a great cruising boat!
On our '77 model, the compression post simply rests on the floor liner, which rests in turn on stringers encased in fiberglass. If I remember right, the compression post (which doubles as a starboard door jamb) does not line up exactly with the stringer it rests on but it is close.
Does your post rest on the floor liner, or directly on the bottom of the boat? If it goes right to the bottom, then I would just put an aluminum plate under it to keep it up out of bilge water, If it is on the floor liner, then I would check the stringer closest to it. Run a drill into it. If the wood is good, put some 5200 or epoxy in the hole and relax. If the wood is punk and or wet, then you will probably have to build a new support between the bottom and the liner. The way the stringer runs under the floor liner, it would be impossible to replace it whole.
The second concern is where did the water come from that caused the original rot at the top of the compression post. Of course, the most likely source is the mast step structure itself. If that is the problem, when you get a good compression post in, the deck and ceiling will deform around the compression post and crossbeam the ties into the top of the post. Actually, if that is the problem, how do you know if your compression post replacement is long enough?
Hmmm, this is going to take more thought. Got to go to work, so I will post this unfinished and return later.
Mike, you have a great cruising boat!
On our '77 model, the compression post simply rests on the floor liner, which rests in turn on stringers encased in fiberglass. If I remember right, the compression post (which doubles as a starboard door jamb) does not line up exactly with the stringer it rests on but it is close.
Does your post rest on the floor liner, or directly on the bottom of the boat? If it goes right to the bottom, then I would just put an aluminum plate under it to keep it up out of bilge water, If it is on the floor liner, then I would check the stringer closest to it. Run a drill into it. If the wood is good, put some 5200 or epoxy in the hole and relax. If the wood is punk and or wet, then you will probably have to build a new support between the bottom and the liner. The way the stringer runs under the floor liner, it would be impossible to replace it whole.
The second concern is where did the water come from that caused the original rot at the top of the compression post. Of course, the most likely source is the mast step structure itself. If that is the problem, when you get a good compression post in, the deck and ceiling will deform around the compression post and crossbeam the ties into the top of the post. Actually, if that is the problem, how do you know if your compression post replacement is long enough?
Hmmm, this is going to take more thought. Got to go to work, so I will post this unfinished and return later.
Re: Compression Post
I don't have a wood post on my 1980 36. Its just a length of galvanized 3" plumbing pipe -- which eventually will have its own age problems.
By your pics, you have nicely recreated your post. What type of wood did you use? Not knowing the details of a H27, if the wood type isn't a rot resistant grade, my only thought is to take some steps to make it so. Maybe dip/coat the ends in/with Copper Green. Or coat with roofing cement. Or a penetrating epoxy. Or whatever you've got around that you think will help more than just bare wood.
Nice looking boat. I saw a Cherubini H27 yesterday on SF Bay. Very clean with newer sails. Every bit as good to look at as many of the bigger and more expensive boats that were out for the season's "Opening Day on the Bay".
I don't have a wood post on my 1980 36. Its just a length of galvanized 3" plumbing pipe -- which eventually will have its own age problems.
By your pics, you have nicely recreated your post. What type of wood did you use? Not knowing the details of a H27, if the wood type isn't a rot resistant grade, my only thought is to take some steps to make it so. Maybe dip/coat the ends in/with Copper Green. Or coat with roofing cement. Or a penetrating epoxy. Or whatever you've got around that you think will help more than just bare wood.
Nice looking boat. I saw a Cherubini H27 yesterday on SF Bay. Very clean with newer sails. Every bit as good to look at as many of the bigger and more expensive boats that were out for the season's "Opening Day on the Bay".
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Thanks!
WOW! thanks for all the replies!
David,
The post sits on the liner so it is out of the bildge and stays dry. I will check the cross member when I go back tonight. I would like to do a SS post down the road but for now this was more cost effective. The post was completely dry so I guess the leak had been repaired by the PO. I can tell that it came through the area around the wire conduit which I will reseal and then reseal the wires in the conduit when I set the mast. I came to the length because the one part of the post was still in good shape and had not rotted so I took that length and added an 1/8 of an inch for the slight imprint in the sole floor. there is a screw that secured the post to the cross member and when I removed it it was tight and solid so I can assume that the cross member will be ok (I hope!).
I made the post out of some wood I had which is Maple and White Oak. I had planned on slapping something on the ends before I put it in.
George, funny you say that about the head sink. The thru hull was cracked and I saw that the first time I had it out last year. I broke it clean off trying to pull the tube from the sink. Needless to say that has been done! I also noticed the deck drains are split, those will be next but I need to get her moved this week so they will have to wait!
Thanks again for all your replies, this is a GREAT site with tons of helpful information.
Mike
WOW! thanks for all the replies!
David,
The post sits on the liner so it is out of the bildge and stays dry. I will check the cross member when I go back tonight. I would like to do a SS post down the road but for now this was more cost effective. The post was completely dry so I guess the leak had been repaired by the PO. I can tell that it came through the area around the wire conduit which I will reseal and then reseal the wires in the conduit when I set the mast. I came to the length because the one part of the post was still in good shape and had not rotted so I took that length and added an 1/8 of an inch for the slight imprint in the sole floor. there is a screw that secured the post to the cross member and when I removed it it was tight and solid so I can assume that the cross member will be ok (I hope!).
I made the post out of some wood I had which is Maple and White Oak. I had planned on slapping something on the ends before I put it in.
George, funny you say that about the head sink. The thru hull was cracked and I saw that the first time I had it out last year. I broke it clean off trying to pull the tube from the sink. Needless to say that has been done! I also noticed the deck drains are split, those will be next but I need to get her moved this week so they will have to wait!
Thanks again for all your replies, this is a GREAT site with tons of helpful information.
Mike
A few more thoughts
That's a good report, Mike, and a good action plan. Somewhere in the archive there is a good thread on compressibility of different woods for use as compression posts. You might try to find that as a check on your hardwood selections.
I wouldn't worry about the mast step "sandwich" now. We sailed Lady Lillie for two summers before we rebuilt the mast step that the surveyor identified as an issue when we bought the boat. And the symptoms of mast step rot are easy to spot (ceiling liner bulges over the cross member and compression post, and it may be hard to slide the door to the head.) So get some sailing time and see what is next when you haul her next.
Fair winds, and following seas!
That's a good report, Mike, and a good action plan. Somewhere in the archive there is a good thread on compressibility of different woods for use as compression posts. You might try to find that as a check on your hardwood selections.
I wouldn't worry about the mast step "sandwich" now. We sailed Lady Lillie for two summers before we rebuilt the mast step that the surveyor identified as an issue when we bought the boat. And the symptoms of mast step rot are easy to spot (ceiling liner bulges over the cross member and compression post, and it may be hard to slide the door to the head.) So get some sailing time and see what is next when you haul her next.
Fair winds, and following seas!
Stepped the mast today, went pretty smooth! I did notice some low areas on the deck now but I think the rib may be too tight. I set it where it had been set by the PO, and I am going to get out the gauge and do it right when I have bit more time. I need to move it from its temporary dock to my home dock tomorrow. Plan to motor most of the way to burn off some old fuel.
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