I have a 1987 Catalina 30. I have a deck depression at the mast step, which I understand is due to a deterioration of a support directly under the mast. The interior looks solid and I do not detect any change in the rig tension. This condition has not changed since I bought the boat in 2004. I am getting water intrusion from one of the opening ports. The port doesn't leak from the outside, but, dark stained water emerges from between the inner liner and outer fiberglass parts of the boat. I suspect that the water color is due to decomposing wood and is coming from the mast. I know this has been a problem on Catalina's. Has anyone experienced this and is there a standard engineered Catalina fix for this.
mast settling
- Thread starter FredB
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Here's a few
As B&D mentioned there's several articles and recommandations available in this issue, see:
http://www.catalina30.com/TechLib/technical.htm for a few links on the matter also,
http://picasaweb.google.com/danlmetzler/MastCompressionBlockRepair shows how he repaired it.
Catalina Yacht had also issue instructions for this repair, some how I can't find it this AM, but I am convince can find it on Catalina website or even call the service center, they will very likely send over to you. They have always been very helpful when I contact them for such information.
Wish you well.
Ghislain
Emilie-Jolie
C30TRBS #4708
As B&D mentioned there's several articles and recommandations available in this issue, see:
http://www.catalina30.com/TechLib/technical.htm for a few links on the matter also,
http://picasaweb.google.com/danlmetzler/MastCompressionBlockRepair shows how he repaired it.
Catalina Yacht had also issue instructions for this repair, some how I can't find it this AM, but I am convince can find it on Catalina website or even call the service center, they will very likely send over to you. They have always been very helpful when I contact them for such information.
Wish you well.
Ghislain
Emilie-Jolie
C30TRBS #4708
I've been through this on my boat. This actually is a matter of two related issues. The first is the settling of your mast into the deck. The second is whether the mast compression post block in the bilge is contributing to the problem. The compression block can be checked by driving a small screwdriver into the wood; if it goes in easily, you may have problems with the block. The removal and replacement of the block is very, very work intensive. I did this job myself, but in retrospect I would have paid a few thousand dollars for the yard to do it. You can see many pictures detailing the process I went through at:
http://picasaweb.google.com/rmoretti49/ClickThisPhotoToOpenMastCompressionBlockRepairSpring2008#
You get to see the warts and all. Make sure to click on the photos to enlarge them and read the commentary.
If the block isn't the problem, the mast step needs to be removed. Beneath the fiberglass, the wooden core is probably soaked, rotted, or both, since it has compressed. The repair involves cutting out the soaked core and replacing it with something more solid, then glassing over and replacing he mast step. I have a bit of settling, but I didn't do this repair yet. The yard wants about 2K to do it.
If you have had no change in your rigging tension over the years (that is, you are not bottoming out on your turnbuckles), I don't think I would do the repair. Instead, remove the mast step and reseat it with caulk. The most likely intrusion points for the water are the lag bolt holes and the pipe through which the electrical lines run. Use a flexible caulk around this pipe. Fill in the mast step's top portion cavities with caulk, tapering the caulk to the pipe. Drill a couple of drainage holes into the bottom of your mast. This should keep any new water from getting in through this route. The drainage from your hatch near the mast may simply be the exit point for water that has gotten in through the mast step.
http://picasaweb.google.com/rmoretti49/ClickThisPhotoToOpenMastCompressionBlockRepairSpring2008#
You get to see the warts and all. Make sure to click on the photos to enlarge them and read the commentary.
If the block isn't the problem, the mast step needs to be removed. Beneath the fiberglass, the wooden core is probably soaked, rotted, or both, since it has compressed. The repair involves cutting out the soaked core and replacing it with something more solid, then glassing over and replacing he mast step. I have a bit of settling, but I didn't do this repair yet. The yard wants about 2K to do it.
If you have had no change in your rigging tension over the years (that is, you are not bottoming out on your turnbuckles), I don't think I would do the repair. Instead, remove the mast step and reseat it with caulk. The most likely intrusion points for the water are the lag bolt holes and the pipe through which the electrical lines run. Use a flexible caulk around this pipe. Fill in the mast step's top portion cavities with caulk, tapering the caulk to the pipe. Drill a couple of drainage holes into the bottom of your mast. This should keep any new water from getting in through this route. The drainage from your hatch near the mast may simply be the exit point for water that has gotten in through the mast step.
Thanks everyone for the replies I received. All were very helpful. Bob M, I think that you have described my boat. On closer look, I do have some deterioration of the bilge post block, especially near the hole drilled for the wires and VHF cable. I scraped about a half inch of rotted wood from around the hole. Most of the rest of it looks solid from what I can get to. Also, I don't see any of the telltale signs described by others inside the cabin: no cracks, no obvious settling, head door fits perfectly, etc. But I do have deck settling and "brown water" leaking from the opening ports, although they don't leak from the outside. So, although the bilge post may be a problem sometime, I'm betting that the wood below the mast step is my immediate problem. Not sure what I'll do at this point. My rigging hasn't changed from what I can tell and there is plenty of turnbuckle adjustment left. I'm leaning toward the calk fix that you described and then just keeping an eye on everything.
Thanks again everyone for your help!
Thanks again everyone for your help!
Tom, Thanks for this. I hope I don't have to use it. I'm 63 and hope that my bilge block will last as long as I do!
Re: Here's a few
Ghislain, Thanks for the helpful pictures. I finally know what the mast step looks like!
Ghislain, Thanks for the helpful pictures. I finally know what the mast step looks like!
As it turned out, my below deck was OK. I did have deterioration of the support directly below the mast step. I removed the mast, step, and dug out the rotted wood between the deck and inner liner and replaced it with structural epoxy. I resealed the wire bundle and PVC tube. Although I still have a slight deck depression around the mast step (less than a quarter inch at the center), I elected not to cut up the deck and try to fix it. The deck is solid, water intrusion has been stopped, and I don't think it will change now during my lifetime. I was lucky to catch it before experiencing damage to the interior structure, although I'm keeping a close watch on it.
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