Compression Block Replacement

Status
Not open for further replies.
J

j.styrlander

Has anyone replaced the compression block below the compression post without completely removing the mast? What did you use to lift the mast out of the way? Are the wires in the mast long enough so the mast can be moved without having wire problems? Thanks, Jim S.
 
Oct 25, 2005
735
Catalina 30 Banderas Bay, Mexico
Mast should be unstepped

The compression block is under compression ... that's how it got it's name. :) What will be supporting the deck and resisting the compression loads from the rig while you replace the block if you don't remove the mast? I doubt that you can get the compression post out of the boat with the mast up. The mast should come out of the boat about every 5-7 years for a good cleaning and inspection. That would be a good time to remove the post and rebuild the block. There should be a harness connector inside the mast that you can un-plug while the crane is holding the mast a foot or so off the deck. It should take less than an hour to take the mast out of the boat. Most mobile crane operators that work in areas where there are boats have helped pull masts. You should be able to do it for the crane's minimum charge (about 2 hours and $200 here in Vancouver). If this is your first time, you might want to hire a rigger to help and show you how it's done.
 
B

Bob

Go to Catalina 30 Association for Write-Up

If you go from here to "resources" and click on "sailing web sites" then go to the "International Catalina 30 Association" and look at the "technical library" and then the "mast column fix" article, this is a step by step write up on the repair of the compression post/mast issue. If you have the Mark III model, then you should have the new metal post rather then the older wood support for the mast. You can search in this fantastic source for the hull number changes and when the changes to the compression post to metal changed (Its after hull #5800). If indeed you do have the metal post, which was installed to stop the settling then something else might be going on here. Moody is right about removing the mast to properly fix the problem. Lots of stuff written about the compression post problem. Bob '88 Catalina Mark II
 
K

Kevin

By the way, Bob

Bob, you're almost right. I have hull # 6205 and I still had a wooden compression post support block.
 
B

Bob

My Surveyor Called It Settling!!

I have a bit of compression "fatigue" on my '88 Mark II, but for now I am living with it.....One of the major indicators to me is how well the door to the head swings open and closes as mast compression is directly related to some deck sag and therefore will cause a friction spot between the door frame and top of the head door. When I had the boat surveyed, the surveyor and I had a long discussion about the infamous Catalina compression post issue. It was not a deal buster for me as the rest of the vessel was almost bristol, being in freshwater for the last 18 years, pristine interior, and very low engine hours (below 350) and an excellent price. The surveyor felt the post settled as far as it would go and made no structural impact to the decking. You really have to look close to notice any settling, although I have a few small spider cracks on the deck that might have resulted from the loading. Their must be hundreds if not thousands of Catalina 30's that have suffered from the compression post problem. I do not know how you measure the severity or impact to the vessel relative to performance, deck and hull intregrity, standing rigging or even moisture damage in regards to post compression. The factory obviously waited til hull 6200??? to make a correction with a metal replacement. Opinions? Bob '88 Mark II 30 model
 
J

Jim Styrlander

Com[pression Block Replacement

Thanks for the replys to my original request for information. I removed my mast because I had a depression in the deck and the rotted block in the bilge. My hull is #6372 and the block is still wood. I removed the rotted material, FG covering and filler with a die grinder powered by an air compressor. It took over two hours of dirty work. I am in the process of replacing the block with West System epoxy over hard wood, and a lot of filler. I am going to make the block in three pieces and use bolt jacks to wedge the center block in place. There should be enough wood supporting the post, but I will fill the jack loctions with filler when the jacks are removed. I found a post somewhere sying this was a good method of getting the post where it is supposed to be. I will fix the deck depression according to the information from Catalina. email if you have any questions. j.styrlander@insightbb.com
 
Status
Not open for further replies.