Does anyone have a problem with the fiberglass around the mast, mine seems to be starting to dip about three inches around the mast area around where the mast sits on the deck. It looks to me like a design error, man I think they should have had alot more fiberglass in this area and a better compression post than just a couple of poorly bolted wood. My best idea is to sand down the gel coat to the fiber glass, about a foot in diameter then drill in some holes to the wood and let it dry out just in case there is water there (not likely)then create a box of epoxy fiberglass for the mast to sit on. Is this a good fix? I know some of you have had this problem I can't be the only one. Ryan
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what year boat?
I have a D and had some cosmetic cracking around the daggerboard and mast step. I cut some starboard as a pad, and beefed up the underside with more glass mat for the mast step. do you have a soft spot?
I have a D and had some cosmetic cracking around the daggerboard and mast step. I cut some starboard as a pad, and beefed up the underside with more glass mat for the mast step. do you have a soft spot?
Compression pole
Hi Ryan, Did you or PO removed the door frame of the head or the plywood behind the sink? They are used as compression pole to transmit the mast force to the keel. Putting stuff on the top won't help until you can transmit the force down to the solid keel box.
Hi Ryan, Did you or PO removed the door frame of the head or the plywood behind the sink? They are used as compression pole to transmit the mast force to the keel. Putting stuff on the top won't help until you can transmit the force down to the solid keel box.
Its a 92 26s
the boat is a 92 26s. and no the door and supports have not been tampered with they are intact. In my opinion this area should have been better supported. it seems to dip just a little bit around where the mast sits ontop of the fiberglass. How exactly did you reinforce yours? Ryan
the boat is a 92 26s. and no the door and supports have not been tampered with they are intact. In my opinion this area should have been better supported. it seems to dip just a little bit around where the mast sits ontop of the fiberglass. How exactly did you reinforce yours? Ryan
Wow, let's fix this
Ryan, I'm coming in late on this but it sounds incongrous fro your description. Of course we believe you but what has moved? Can you remove the foam from nearby under the mast to see what may have compressed? I suppose a leak around your mast step could have allowed the post to soften or rot. Then again instead of drilling holes let's find out what gave way. Was your rigging exceptionally tight perhaps? Is the floor under the compression post level or has it sagged? I'm trying to pin point where the problem is so you can fix it once and for all. My 26S has been sold so I can't go out and look but maybe others or yourself can describe what is directly under your mast. If it is something rotten there then maybe you can jack it up a little at a time and add something more substantial. I have never heard of this problem and I think we all would like to help you fix this before something very bad happens. I can't believe with a loss of 3 inches your rigging wasn't loose as heck. Perhaps a photo of what is inside the upper console with foam removed will help. Steve P.
Ryan, I'm coming in late on this but it sounds incongrous fro your description. Of course we believe you but what has moved? Can you remove the foam from nearby under the mast to see what may have compressed? I suppose a leak around your mast step could have allowed the post to soften or rot. Then again instead of drilling holes let's find out what gave way. Was your rigging exceptionally tight perhaps? Is the floor under the compression post level or has it sagged? I'm trying to pin point where the problem is so you can fix it once and for all. My 26S has been sold so I can't go out and look but maybe others or yourself can describe what is directly under your mast. If it is something rotten there then maybe you can jack it up a little at a time and add something more substantial. I have never heard of this problem and I think we all would like to help you fix this before something very bad happens. I can't believe with a loss of 3 inches your rigging wasn't loose as heck. Perhaps a photo of what is inside the upper console with foam removed will help. Steve P.
Ryan, Steve Paul has a point. How tight is your rigging? The deck should not sag even with moderately tight rigging. I tuned mine pretty tight to be able to play a low note on it. May be you can take the deck plate off and see if the plywood underneath has rotted out. You can use a awl to dig out some material from the hole. If is is dark brown, you've got a rotted deck problem. It isn't too hard to remove the deck plate. You need a long 7/16 socket from underneath and someone on top holding the bolt head. It is wise to re-chaulk all the deck fittings every 5-10 years anyway. Use 3M 4200 (never 3M 5000) as it remain somewhat soft throughout the life span. It is also UV proof and won't yellow. There are lots of info on the Internet on how to fix deck rot. I usually drilled out a hole twice the diameter (about 1/2 inch) than original. Use an awl and very slow speed drill to "ream" out the rotted core, in this case plywood. Wood working shop usually sells epoxy to restore rotted wood. Cover the bottom hole with masking tape and pour the thickened epoxy into the hole and let it cure. After that, redrill the hole to the original size again. Don't forget to put fender washers (larger outside diameter then normal) underneath. You'll expect to spend at least 2 days for this. Good luck!
Thanks for your help
Well I appreicate the responses, My rigging is a little loose on the back stay I didn't know that could cause this kind of damage. I'm thinking It could be water damaged from the previous owner. Man what a mess to fix! I think it may be a soft spot. I hope I can make it even stronger than original. Thanks Ryan
Well I appreicate the responses, My rigging is a little loose on the back stay I didn't know that could cause this kind of damage. I'm thinking It could be water damaged from the previous owner. Man what a mess to fix! I think it may be a soft spot. I hope I can make it even stronger than original. Thanks Ryan
loose backstay is good!
the backstay didn't cause the problem... it should be loose... what about the sides? they should be pretty tight... if you have a soft spot, a major repair is in order... all the walls and doors are in there for head? I liked the don casey articles... west systems has some good ones too. can you post some photos?
the backstay didn't cause the problem... it should be loose... what about the sides? they should be pretty tight... if you have a soft spot, a major repair is in order... all the walls and doors are in there for head? I liked the don casey articles... west systems has some good ones too. can you post some photos?
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