Catalina 30 mast step compression post collapsing

[Garester]

I have a 1983 Catalina 30 and the roof/ceiling under the mast step is collapsing. I don't know what is inside the fiberglass.
Has anybody had experience with this? Is it possible to de-step the mast, open this up and repair the damaged support then re-step the mast?

 

[dlochner]

The beauty of fiberglass is that it can always be repaired. Judging from how the deck and hull liner collapsed around the compression post, the problem is a wet core in the area of the mast step. The place to look first is the deck and how wet the core is. Eventually to do the repair the mast will need to come down.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

It’s probably not the step fiberglass which decomposed but rather the mast post where it rests on the keel which can be constantly wet from bilge water saturating it.

 

[rgranger]

Yikes!
I thinkk @dlochner got it. You will have to unstep the mast, tear into that and find what is rotten and replace it.

 

[ggrizzard]

Thus sayeth the Three Wise Men. Go forth and conquer!
Oh BTW, don't forget to wear a mask when opening up the fiberglass areas...

 

[MikeHoncho]

Mast and compression post will have to come out. The deck structure is defiantly the cause of the fiberglass damage shown. While its all out verify the integrity of the compression post and the structure it sits on in the bilge. Mine was doing this but it was just slightly noticeable, no cracks just a slight indentation in the ceiling. The structure that that compression post sat on was failing so it all needed to come out (left the mast on). I had to do some work on the wire chase under the mast so I was able to confirm the wood structure at the mast step was good with some slight water damage between the ceiling liner and plywood core. I did all the work and added a 5mm 12x12 carbon fiber plate between the compression post and ceiling liner to disperse the weight. Worked well for my needs. Yours is going to need a full rebuild of the core then fiberglass repair of the liner after.

 

[DrJudyB]

Yes, it’s possible to repair it. But it’s not a job for a beginner. You have remove the mast and the compression post, cut out all the damaged stuff and replace it with new. Reinstall the compression post and mast. Sounds simple, but the devil is in the details.

And while the compression post and mast are down, that would be the time to repair the compression block under the compression post if it’s not sound.

Here’s a link to a repair under a mast step that I did a couple of years ago. It’s not a Catalina, and the damaged area is smaller, but the technique is similar.

Farrier F24 Mk1 Trimaran #003

January 2018 - Repairing Core and Laminate Damage underneath the Mast Hinge Above: wide angle view inside the cabin showing area o...

blog.f24-mk1-trimaran.com