I have searched these forums for 2 days and have not found any relevant information regarding the compression post on these boats. I've found a lot of partial info but nothing complete. Mine seems to be failing due to possible corrosion at the base. The previous owner decided not to tell me about the extent of the corrosion which the surveyor also missed. The previous owner applied an epoxy coating to the visible portion to conceal the corrosion. Does anyone have specific information on a successful replacement of the compression post? For example, does the mast have to be removed or can the cabin ceiling be raised /supported by a jack while the post is removed? What's the attachment at the top of the post? It appears that the base is glassed in. What methods have been successful in refastening the base? Does it require re-glassing? Photos would be greatly appreciated. Also, the rudder needs to be rebuilt. Does anyone have detailed information on rebuilding this rudder? I've heard some rudders are rebuilt with Coos composite boards and then glassed over. Photos would be helpful here. Thanks in advance, Bob
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compression post
I have not had to replace my compresion post on my H36 1980 hull#30. I do have signs of corrosion at the base but no indication of compression failure, and hope that none ever shows up. Anyway, having done extensive upgrade & refitting of Trinity, I might shed some light. 1st. Pulling the mast would relieve all load on the post, it is not only the mast weight but a tremendous amount of rigging tension from the shrouds applied to the mast to keep it upright, so remove the mast. 2nd. The mast is most likely sitting on an alluminum plate glassed into the cabin top. The cabin top winches and all hardware are attached to an alluminum plate that is glassed in, so it makes sense that the mast is also. I have not had to drill through this area yet. But it is a good guess. 3rd Yes, the post base is glassed in and would have to be cut free & re- glassed. Have you removed the interior wood post cover and got a good look at the overall post condition? This may help in your assement and extent of failure. I haven't quite solved the mystery of what caused the corrosion at the base but it is a process of elimination. Good luck and hope this is of some help. Joe s/v Trinity
I have not had to replace my compresion post on my H36 1980 hull#30. I do have signs of corrosion at the base but no indication of compression failure, and hope that none ever shows up. Anyway, having done extensive upgrade & refitting of Trinity, I might shed some light. 1st. Pulling the mast would relieve all load on the post, it is not only the mast weight but a tremendous amount of rigging tension from the shrouds applied to the mast to keep it upright, so remove the mast. 2nd. The mast is most likely sitting on an alluminum plate glassed into the cabin top. The cabin top winches and all hardware are attached to an alluminum plate that is glassed in, so it makes sense that the mast is also. I have not had to drill through this area yet. But it is a good guess. 3rd Yes, the post base is glassed in and would have to be cut free & re- glassed. Have you removed the interior wood post cover and got a good look at the overall post condition? This may help in your assement and extent of failure. I haven't quite solved the mystery of what caused the corrosion at the base but it is a process of elimination. Good luck and hope this is of some help. Joe s/v Trinity
Hunter 31 is similar but not quite the same
Thanks Patrick for the link. One of the main differences is that there is a steel footing that the floor and the compression post rests on. This is the part that is apparently failing so raising the ceiling by jacks on the floor is more complicated. I believe that I will have to de-step the mast. I know that a lot of h36_80-82 owners have done this replacement but there just doesn't seem to be any shared info. Thanks Joe for the tips. I haven't removed the post covers yet because it appears that they are taking some of the weight of the sagging ceiling.
Thanks Patrick for the link. One of the main differences is that there is a steel footing that the floor and the compression post rests on. This is the part that is apparently failing so raising the ceiling by jacks on the floor is more complicated. I believe that I will have to de-step the mast. I know that a lot of h36_80-82 owners have done this replacement but there just doesn't seem to be any shared info. Thanks Joe for the tips. I haven't removed the post covers yet because it appears that they are taking some of the weight of the sagging ceiling.
my 36 compression post
I may have a similar problem. Below the cabin sole I have a wrapped post that is painted with silver paint. Looks like a fiberglass cloth with rust cracks on it wrapped around a post. No apparent deformation. I thought the compression post going up through the cabin was a continuation of a metal post. I removed the approx. 3/8" teak aft face, only to find that the post is a series of 2x4s. Now I have to place the facing back and put in plugs I drilled out for nothing! The previous posting is correct. You have to great load to support with both the downward component of the shroud load and dead weight of the mast. It would be a mistake to try to do any repair with the mast up. Don't know how you really work in that tight space below the sole!!
I may have a similar problem. Below the cabin sole I have a wrapped post that is painted with silver paint. Looks like a fiberglass cloth with rust cracks on it wrapped around a post. No apparent deformation. I thought the compression post going up through the cabin was a continuation of a metal post. I removed the approx. 3/8" teak aft face, only to find that the post is a series of 2x4s. Now I have to place the facing back and put in plugs I drilled out for nothing! The previous posting is correct. You have to great load to support with both the downward component of the shroud load and dead weight of the mast. It would be a mistake to try to do any repair with the mast up. Don't know how you really work in that tight space below the sole!!
Problem Suspected
Don’t know if I’ve got a problem or not? While surveying the boat I looked forward from the bilge access and saw a metal post, could be chromed steel, could be stainless steel but I doubt it. The previous owner had covered the Base of the Post with what looks like Pink Fiberglass house insulation soaked in resin. Sloppy job, just thrown on the side that you can get at. Could be just covering up a multitude of sins. I have no deformation going on that I can see, but further investigation will be forthcoming. I do wish that Hunter could make design documentation available for these older boats so that new owners could know what the heck they are looking at. I might as well be talking to the wall for that.
Don’t know if I’ve got a problem or not? While surveying the boat I looked forward from the bilge access and saw a metal post, could be chromed steel, could be stainless steel but I doubt it. The previous owner had covered the Base of the Post with what looks like Pink Fiberglass house insulation soaked in resin. Sloppy job, just thrown on the side that you can get at. Could be just covering up a multitude of sins. I have no deformation going on that I can see, but further investigation will be forthcoming. I do wish that Hunter could make design documentation available for these older boats so that new owners could know what the heck they are looking at. I might as well be talking to the wall for that.
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