Mast Compression

[Dalloway]

So I'm looking at buying an old Rafiki 35. She has a slight flattening/possible depression around the base of the mast. The gelcoat isn't cracked or crazed or anything, and the door almost directly below the mast inside the cabin opens and closes perfectly. Inside looks fine, and an inspection of the bottom of the compression post doesn't reveal anything telling. It looks OK to me. The chainplates have PLENTY of room for tightening, so the rig isn't loose from the compression. If anything I would say that if there was a change in the height of the mast, it was before new standing rigging was installed. I'm not sure what to make of it. There's a steel plate that appears to possibly be a later addition at the bottom of the mast, with a second steel plate on the ceiling inside below the bottom of the mast. We may be getting a professional's opinion in the near future but I was wondering if anyone had any theories.

 

[shemandr]

Don't like a depression in the deck around the mast. If you have a bottle of water, and pour it around the mast does it drain away? If it doesn't, that water and its H2O kin are seeping into the deck. Maybe very slowly but its a solid negative for me in looking at a boat. The abundance of room for tightening the standing rigging doesn't mean all is well, as you said, because it is a retro-fit. The steel plates may have been a effort to support the deck step.
Since the mast step area is critical I think you should have a professional opinion if you really want this boat.

 

[Dalloway]

Didn't think to do that but it wasn't somewhere water could sit. It was more of a flattening. Wish I had taken more pictures! It wasn't nothing but it wasn't any more than maybe 1/4 inch off what it seemed it should have been.