I'm looking at a 1979 Hunter 25.The owner has let the boat sit for five years and let water build up in the bilge.How do you tell if the compression post is still good?I've never owned a deck step mast sail boat and know little about them.
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1975 H-25 with problems
I looked at one recently that had problems with the mast support structure. The deck was soft around the mast step, and the interior bulkheads were badly warped. I didn't look further, but the wood surrounding the compression post would need to be taken apart to reveal the extent of any damage there. Also, I was told (by a dealer) that some of these boats had a steel piece that the compression post sat on, molded into the hull, if my understanding was correct. This steel could be deteriorated also. I'm not sure, but in the boat I was looking at, the problems probably began with a leak in the deck at or near the mast step.
I looked at one recently that had problems with the mast support structure. The deck was soft around the mast step, and the interior bulkheads were badly warped. I didn't look further, but the wood surrounding the compression post would need to be taken apart to reveal the extent of any damage there. Also, I was told (by a dealer) that some of these boats had a steel piece that the compression post sat on, molded into the hull, if my understanding was correct. This steel could be deteriorated also. I'm not sure, but in the boat I was looking at, the problems probably began with a leak in the deck at or near the mast step.
Repairs of compression structures
I knew of a 1974 Ranger 23 that had a rotted plywood bulkhead under the mast step. It was the main reason the boat was sitting for $3400 and no one was buying it. I could not afford to splurge on it at the time but had got a quote for replacing the plywood which was for about $600. I ought to have bid about a grand for the boat as-is and had it fixed. But for the cash (an insignificant amount really) it was a no-brainer. The boat was turned over (for no cash) to a guy who fixed it and sailed happily off into the sunset. My advice is to NOT give up on a boat you like but, low-balling asking figures appropriately, to GO for it. All fibreglass-and-wood boats can be repaired. For the learner it's a good experience. Fibreglass work is ugly, grinding, laying up, and more grinding, seemingly ad infinitum, but it is very basic work and does not require a degree in chemical engineering. It's just WORK. Any responsible, hard-working individual can do it. I say fix anything and call the boat your own. The world has enough dead fibreglass boats lying round. Ultimately it the boat you reject is NOT 'someone else's problem' but one for all of us-- because the neglected boat will probably never really go away. JC
I knew of a 1974 Ranger 23 that had a rotted plywood bulkhead under the mast step. It was the main reason the boat was sitting for $3400 and no one was buying it. I could not afford to splurge on it at the time but had got a quote for replacing the plywood which was for about $600. I ought to have bid about a grand for the boat as-is and had it fixed. But for the cash (an insignificant amount really) it was a no-brainer. The boat was turned over (for no cash) to a guy who fixed it and sailed happily off into the sunset. My advice is to NOT give up on a boat you like but, low-balling asking figures appropriately, to GO for it. All fibreglass-and-wood boats can be repaired. For the learner it's a good experience. Fibreglass work is ugly, grinding, laying up, and more grinding, seemingly ad infinitum, but it is very basic work and does not require a degree in chemical engineering. It's just WORK. Any responsible, hard-working individual can do it. I say fix anything and call the boat your own. The world has enough dead fibreglass boats lying round. Ultimately it the boat you reject is NOT 'someone else's problem' but one for all of us-- because the neglected boat will probably never really go away. JC
Mast Support
I also had problems related to deck leaks around the mast step. But they were not extremely difficult to repair. With respect to the compression post, on my 74 model 25 it was simply screwed to the plywood bulkhead and is very easy to remove. If the bottom is rotten, it wouldn't be very difficult to replicate. Also take a close look at the bulk head. There are lots of old neglicted boats in need of a good home. My current project is a US 25 that I bought for $50 at auction because the yard was trying to recover unpaid storage bills. It had been sitting for ten years and there was about 10" of water in it. All of the main cabin needs to be replaced. Fortunately, most of the old plywood is solid enough to use as templates for the replacement pieces. I estimate that I'll need about a week of solid work to get it put back together. Good luck!!
I also had problems related to deck leaks around the mast step. But they were not extremely difficult to repair. With respect to the compression post, on my 74 model 25 it was simply screwed to the plywood bulkhead and is very easy to remove. If the bottom is rotten, it wouldn't be very difficult to replicate. Also take a close look at the bulk head. There are lots of old neglicted boats in need of a good home. My current project is a US 25 that I bought for $50 at auction because the yard was trying to recover unpaid storage bills. It had been sitting for ten years and there was about 10" of water in it. All of the main cabin needs to be replaced. Fortunately, most of the old plywood is solid enough to use as templates for the replacement pieces. I estimate that I'll need about a week of solid work to get it put back together. Good luck!!
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