Crack around mast base?

[Jimmy Jenkins]

I don't like the looks of this. Can anyone tell me what is under the crack and what I am looking at to correct it?

Thanks,
Jimmy

 

[kloudie1]

Not positive, Jimmy.. but it looks like the compression post system has or is beginning to fail. On the 30, the part that is the usual problem is the steel I beam in the bilge. It is almost directly under the compression post.. There are several notes in this forum on fixing that beam.. If that isn't the trouble, it could be that the mast is moving enough from loose rigging to make the embedded plate under the mast step crack the glass. not a simple job but not awful either..

 

[Steve Dion]

I would agree with Claude. Be sure to take a good look at the beam in the bilge. After 30+ years of water in the bilge there can be a lot of corrosion.

If that is not the case, then you probably need to remove the mast and cut out the area under the mast step for inspection.

 

[Nelsonhow]

assuming that the I beam and post are ok the problem is probably a wet core under the mast. On some of the Hunters the deck under the mast is a sandwich of balas bricks between the fiberglass top and bottom of the deck. (Some Hunters also have an aluminum plate under the mast base as well). A quick check is to remove the electric connections next to the mast. Use a dental pick to probe around. If you see mushy wood you've probably found the problem and source.

If you find mush balsa you can fix this if the mast is down.

Remove the mast base shoe from the deck. The with a small drill drill test holes in all directions about an inch or 2 apart if you don't find wet wood you're OK and you can exoxy up the holes. If you find wet wood keep working out unil you find dry wood. Mark the wet area in a symetrical pattern with tape and a pencil. Use a dremmel tool to cut out the top of the deck. Pry it up carefully because you'll need it to repair the deck. Use a sharp chisel to dig/cut out all the wet wood. Then cut hard wood (balsa if you must) to fill the area you dug out. It may take a little trial and error to get the shapes and witdth correct. Lots of trial and error to make sure that everything fits nicely.

When you satisfited paint the wood blocks and area you dug out with expoy and place the blocks. Next make up expoxy with filler to fill the voids and glue the top of the deck back in place. Use bricks on top to press the deck back in place. You can add filler to the crack left in the deck and sand the seam smooth and then paint the deck area to make it look good.

You may want to figure out some other way run the electrical connections to the mast. Through the deck connections like you have are often the source of the problems.......

 

[sandpiper10471]

From the photos I think someone has already had a kick at the can repairing this deck area, and didn't solve the problem Could be multiple issues here. Wet core as well as suspect compression post base.

 

[DianaOfBurlington]

What Nelson said.

 

[sirMichaelJAM]

assuming that the I beam and post are ok the problem is probably a wet core under the mast. On some of the Hunters the deck under the mast is a sandwich of balas bricks between the fiberglass top and bottom of the deck. (Some Hunters also have an aluminum plate under the mast base as well). A quick check is to remove the electric connections next to the mast. Use a dental pick to probe around. If you see mushy wood you've probably found the problem and source.

If you find mush balsa you can fix this if the mast is down.

Remove the mast base shoe from the deck. The with a small drill drill test holes in all directions about an inch or 2 apart if you don't find wet wood you're OK and you can exoxy up the holes. If you find wet wood keep working out unil you find dry wood. Mark the wet area in a symetrical pattern with tape and a pencil. Use a dremmel tool to cut out the top of the deck. Pry it up carefully because you'll need it to repair the deck. Use a sharp chisel to dig/cut out all the wet wood. Then cut hard wood (balsa if you must) to fill the area you dug out. It may take a little trial and error to get the shapes and witdth correct. Lots of trial and error to make sure that everything fits nicely.

When you satisfited paint the wood blocks and area you dug out with expoy and place the blocks. Next make up expoxy with filler to fill the voids and glue the top of the deck back in place. Use bricks on top to press the deck back in place. You can add filler to the crack left in the deck and sand the seam smooth and then paint the deck area to make it look good.

You may want to figure out some other way run the electrical connections to the mast. Through the deck connections like you have are often the source of the problems.......

Hi, Andy Miller has a great video on how to repair the core as well as other great videos.
http://boatworkstoday.com/