Compression post repair

[BobHorn]

Just looked at a 37CC. It seems the top of the compression post is about one inch low. The forward head door has a very uneven gap at the top and the v-berth door will not close because it is rubbing against the door frame at the top. I can see the bottom of the compression post through a very small access panel in the floor but there is no way to reach it or work on it.
Any thoughts?
Bob

 

[Waandderer]

Sounds to me as if the boat has been wracked (twisted). this could have been done by collision or heavy wave action. I nearly bought a Catalina Morgan 50 that this has happened to (heavy wave action during storm). you might want to check in the hull compartments at the bow and stern for de-lamination of fiberglass layers or de-tabbing of stringers or braces, both port and starboard. The Catalina I looked at exhibited both as well as your symptoms. there was not a compression post, mast was keel stepped, but the mast was off to one side in the through the deck hole.

 

[BobHorn]

There is some obvious water damage at the bottom of the post. The post seems to be boxed in in the wall between the salon and forward cabin. I was looking for some information on what the post is made of and how it is supported on the bottom of the boat. Is there a way to get to it? Hoping there was someone with a 37 that had some detailed info. This surely isn't the first one with that issue.

 

[71Irwin32]

Very serious job. I assume you already no, it can't be sailed without that repair.

 

[tampahokie]

Irwin made my '84CC38' with an inner pan that rests inside the hull. The inner pan has the molded setees and cabinets in it. The steel compression posts sits on the top of the inner pan. Between the pan and the hull, they put wooden shims to transfer the weight of the mast from the bottom of the pan to the top of the keel. The shims rotted away over the years and the compression post popped through the pan to the keel, about a 4" drop. We were on the way from Isla Mujeres to the Dry Tortugas. It was exciting to have the rig suddenly swaying back and forth. Repair was a 4-5" tall block of white oak wrapped in mesh and soaked in resin then tabbed into the void under the pan. It's been 10 years and no sign of any decay. We lifted the coach roof using vertical 4x4's with bottle jacks on top.