[alberg30] Remove step plate

From: alberg30 at interactive.net (Joe Tokarz)

Jim: consider this:

I am in the process of repairing the mast step on #499, built 1972. I
believe there is a metal support beam imbedded in glass, but it is nearly
on line with the aft edge of the forward hatch. Down below, this would be
the very edge of the v-berth, it should look like a two to four inch
bulkhead that spans the ceiling between the head area(port side) and the
foul weather gear locker (starboard side).  Take a look at the photos of
the deck opened up at the mast step on my website:

http://userweb.interactive.net/~alberg30/cprojects.html

While routing around, I encountered no metal support beam, so it must be
right at the edge of the hatch.

Like my boat, I suspect you have compression at the mast step, a symptom
wholey un-affected by the integrity of the support beam. What's causing
your
mast to sink is compressed or damaged core. Bear in mind that the only
reason I attempted to fix this problem was because the doors down below
where getting stuck because the ceiling was sinking. I believe that the
mast step has enough strength, even with the damaged core to support the
mast under reasonable tension. Having routed out quite a large area, I can
tell you that the damaged area was really very small, maybe 12"x 8".

If the deck isn't compressed that much, I'd leave it for a while. I waited
over a year to repair mine. After removing the mast and making the repair,
the deck sprang right back into place. Truly amazing. Consult anyone of the
maintenance manuals for repair options. The most recent version has several
articles discussing repairs from the top down, the bottom up, etc. Anyone
who discounts the strength of the deck, even with damaged core, should don
a pair of safety glasses and watch you try to cut into the deck. Its a
serious job, and even ruined core has plenty of strength. 

If I had to do it again, I might consider repairing from the liner side up,
it would leave the deck in tact and save some cosmetic work.

Joe #499
"One Less Traveled"
----------
> From: Miabarchet at aol.com
> To: alberg30 at onelist.com
> Subject: Re: [alberg30] Support Beam
> Date: Saturday, November 06, 1999 9:46 AM
> 
> From: Miabarchet at aol.com
> 
> After all the discussion about the support beam I have become concerned .

> Barchetta Mia was built in 1974, hull # 565.  I was told that Albergs of
that 
> vintage had a metal beam under the liner.  Does anyone know if this is 
> correct. If not I would think the liner would need to be cut away to make
the 
> repair, making for a a ugly job. 
> 
> Also this is the first I am winter storing with the mast up.  I thought
about 
> relieving some of the tension in the rigging but decided it wasn't
necessary 
> since the coefficeint of expansion of the aluminium mast is greater  than

> that of the rigging. This would cause the mast to shrink in lenght more
than 
> the rigging thus relieving some of the tension. 
> 
> When I tune the rigging in the spring I use a tension gauge and tighten
the 
> forestay and  upper and lower shrouds to 15% of their  breaking strength
. I 
> would appreciate other comments . 
> 
> 
>                              Jim Allocco
> 
> 
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