H34 Compression post sound, fiberglass cracked

[Claude L.-Auger]

Last summer I noticed a crack in the fiberglass right above the compression post, on the salon side. No cracks on the head side. I noticed also that the deck seemed to have come down a little bit on the post. Having read everything I could find in the archives, today I proceeded to remove it. First, you don't need to remove the bulkhead, but you do need to remove the multiple screws on the head side of it. After removing the settee against the bulkhead, I used a jack to lift the deck a little bit,the post slid off real easy. Dry as a bone ! No rot whatsoever ! Inserting my fingers in the 2 holes, I found that the piece of lumber beneath the fiberglass was as dry as the post itself ! I then measured the horizontal wire notch and found it to be 4 & 1/8 inch wide left to right, thus leaving an area of about 4" X 2" unsupported. Judging from what I was able to see and measure, lumber there did not seem to have compressed. It would evidently be better supported if there was a metal plate as Allan has installed on his boat. Best I can figure for the reason of the crack is this: I had a new mast installed and it was 1 inch taller than the old. In order to adjust it, we had to put a lot of pressure pulling it down and backwards using the main sheet attached to the rear of the boat and winching hard. I believe this extremely hard tensioning created undue pressure on the back of the mast setting. I have since lenghtened the back stay and there is much less tension now.The way I feel, all I have to do is re-install the post and then fix the crack. Since I have to unstep the mast every fall anyway, I can watch it closely. I feel rather secure that the installation is still sound and that all I have to do is a little bit of cosmetic work.Has anybody out there seen the same thing ? What was your solution ?Thanks for your input.

 

[Ernie Rogers]

Did you check the keel-end of the post?

I truly hope that your assessment is correct, but since you've gone to that much trouble, it seems like a good idea to check the "bilge-end" of the compression post to be sure that it's sound too. You have probably already checked this, but since you didn't say so, I thought I'd mention it.

 

[Steve Dion]

Bite the bullet and have a post made.

Claude:You have done the major part of the work already. I would suggest that you replace the compression post with a stainless steel post and box that back in. This will eliminate ever having to do that regardless of the crossmember.

 

[Skipper (Eric)]

How do I step the mast?

Claud and or any one else,Can you give me a clue how this mast is stepped? I figure it must be done with the crain at the marina???? How do I get the mast perpendicular with out a hinge plate? And do I have the boat in the water when I mount the mast? YOur Friend"The Skipper" from Ohio (Eric Stanson)

 

[Claude L.-Auger]

Either way !

You can step the mast with the boat in or out of the water. You need a crane to lift the mast up 90 degrees above the mast foot.If the crane is high enough, you set a loop (do not do a hanging noose) under the spreaders and lift straight up over the base, then lower slowly until it is set in its place. Don't forget all the in-mast connections (lights, VHF antenna, wind meter, etc). Do not release the crane until you have secured the head and back stay and all shrouds. Just a little tension on them is enough. You can tune later. When you release the crane, if the loop is well made with some loose, as the crane releases its tension, the loop will slide all the way down. Some people do tie a small pull-line to the loop in case it gets snuggled up under the spreaders. That way you can pull it down.You reverse the procedure to un-step. It's relatively easy, but if you have never done it, ask the yard or someone who has experience.Make sure you have everything ready ahead of time. You'll be appreciated by those who wait their turn, or you'll pay less if crane is hourly rate. At my club, we have access to an electrical crane right at the service dock, so we step and un-step while in the water. Because of trees and power lines, we have to un-step every Fall when storing the boats for winter. My mast is over 46 feet from base to top. I have a roller furler, split backstay and 6 shrouds, and with everything ready it does not take more than 30/45 minutes. I need 2 helpers: 1 to handle the roller furler & 1 to operate the crane while I handle the base of the mast.Good luck

 

[Tom Weiler]

Stainless Comp Post

I have just completed a stainless compression post for my H34 Circus. I used 2" 316 stainless tubing (check local scrap dealers, you'd be amazed what you can find for cheap). We welded end plates of 1/4" stainless plate to both ends, these are drilled to allow the post to be screwed down at both ends. All in all the whole project isn't that bad. I'll be posting pictures in the near future.