H30 with rusted compression post

[malyea]

I have a deposit on an '82 H30

I haven't yet had a formal survey as required by BoatUS for insurance, but after yesterdays $120, 2 hour inspection, I like the boat and want to close the deal and take ownership - but I want to know what repairs I'm in for.

I'm concerned about the amount of rusting that has occurred on the bottom 6-8" of the metal compression post. It appears to be an inverted 'cross' configuration with a vertical extension downward from the cross beam allowing the extension to be ''resting on the keel' or 'stepped' to the keel 6-8" below the cross member. The material appears to be a metal 2x2.

Good news: The mast step area is level and currently shows no sign of mast settling or comp post failure - thus far. The metal comp post has 'large flakes' of flaking rust on the surface that flake off when chipped at. Chipping at the rusted metal with a flathead screwdriver returns a solid sounding 'clinck' of metal on solid metal. But there's lot's of flaking rust....

I'm trying to research and read the previous threads on this topic of rusted comp posts....

How do I determine the degree of rusting that has occurred?

How do I assess the structural integrity of the rusted base of the compression post?

How do I assess how far up the comp post the rust reaches?

How long before the rusting compromises the comp post integrity?

Can I fix it completely (ie, arrest the rusting) with steel brushing, naval jelley, rust inhibiting compounds, etc OR will that treatment just delay the inevitable r/r of the comp post?

If/when I have the comp post replaced, what is the process and how much (ballpark) is the cost, labor and materials?

Just whip out your crystal ball please......How should I proceed since I haven't yet taken ownership?

Any help/advice/links would be greatly apreciated!

Thanks, Mike

 

[Ed Schenck]

There was once a photo project detailing the whole process of repair. Maybe one of the H30 owners knows what happened to it. There are several threads like this one: http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/archive/index.php/t-93579.html . You will learn a lot more from the current owners.

Oh, and there is an H30 website. Maybe that is where the photos are: http://www.hunter30.org/ .

 

[digby sailor]

i beam replacement

just did mone after haul out in the fall...piece of cake.i had the boom truck come and take the mast down,removed the bronze screws on the right hand side looking aft from the head of the teak covering the post,removed the table and the teak shelf it hinges on kicked the bottom aft and removed the post.removed the piece of 3/4 inch plywood that is between the post and the ibeam,cut with a cut off wheel the epoxy around the base of the ibeam and removed the old i beam,took the old peice to the local shipyard and had a new one fabed from stainless set it in the old one in a bed of wet fiberglass resin and reinstalled the post,easy fix though expensive for the stainless replacement.

 

[malyea]

Thanks digby, what was the total cost plz as this will be a negotiating point with the seller?

 

[digby sailor]

cost

well it was i beleive 60 bucks to get a boom truck to come down from a local yard and lay the mast on the ground and the shipyard charged me 300 bucks to fabricate the i beam out of stainless and make me a plate to attach blocks to under the mast step to run halyards and reefing lines etc aft.this is a good time to do this if you dont have such a plate because it eliminates the need for standing blocks and more places for water to enter the deck.I alco routed out my compression post behind the teak sheathing and put in a peice of 1 inch plastic conduit to run mast wiring through to eliminate even more through deck connections where water can enter the deck.but back to the cost i guess 120 to unstep and restep the mast and i beleive it was 175 to have the stainless beam fabed(it does not have to be stainless however you will forever eliminate unsightly rust stains in your bilge) and likely maybe 6 hours of actual work hard to guage really time flies when your having fun!

 

[ggrizzard]

The Hunter 30.org site is dormant. o2 addict stopped activity about a year ago.
Articles and pics may still be acessable. FYI