Hi.
I think that this is a false alarm but better to know the truth either
way.
I was out at my boat today - didn't have time to go for a sail so did some
jobs including tightening up standing rigging to recommended tensions -
the shrouds in particular had been quite slack.
I've been sailing the boat regularly in fresh F4-5 breezes since Christmas
- I'd noticed the leeward shrouds were slack and also thought that I
heard some creaking when sailing hard on the wind.
After hardening up the rigging today I went to forecabin to get something
- noticed that the (1-2 cm-thick?) piece of wood that is forward of the
mast compression beam - not the beam itself! - has come unstuck on the
port side.
This is the forward-facing piece of wood above the fore-cabin door that is
approx the same size and shape as the mast compression beam and through
which access is gained to the athwartship wiring and (in my case) VHF coax
cable.
To be precise this piece of wood - on the port side only - has deflected
from the vertical though about 20 degrees - ie the top has twisted in a
foreward direct by 2-4 cm.
The reason I noticed this is that the forcabin door will not close as the
top of this piece of wood now fouls the top of the door by maybe 0.5
cm.
Obviously I could just use a wood plane to shave 0.5 cm off the lower part
of the piece of wood.
Should I investigate further?
The mast compression beam seems fine - at least when I inspected the
visible (aft) face.
The side posts(?) of the door show no sign of bending or deflection.
Advice very welcome!
Thanks
John
V 1447 Breakaway
John A. Kinsella Ph: +353-61-202148 (Direct)
+353-61-333644 x 2148 (Switch)
Mathematics Dept. e-mail: John.Kinsella@...
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