[Alberg30] Hull #176

[Larry Morris]

I would be very concerned about the SS bolts being held in place by epoxy.
The problem you face is that the mast is in compression while sailing and if
you have any seaway that could shift that step even slightly out of column
would greatly increae the loads on those bolts.  They fail and the rig
comedown.

I would also be concerned about the dissimilar metals in the mast step
assembly, ALuminum, Bronze, and Stainless.  This is goin to cause problems
in the long run. A paint barrier to isolate the components is effective
along with coating the fastners with lock tite to isolate fastners.

I would not be as concerned about the masthead fitting because it is not
directly exposed to salt water and they are typically designed to withstand
loads many times greater than the normal operating loads. So much so that a
little corrosion over many years has not been detremental to the mast head.

Fair Winds

Larry Morris
Solstice #501


-----Original Message-----
From: public-list-bounces at alberg30.org
[mailto:public-list-bounces at alberg30.org]On Behalf Of
newmant at pipeline.com
Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2002 2:09 PM
To: Alberg30 Association
Subject: [Alberg30] Hull #176


The builders plate on my Alberg #176 is 3066176 which correlates with your
hull date table. I bought it second hand in 1971 and thought it was built in
1965 but the plate indicates 1966.

I am a bit concerned about the cast aluminium on my boat - mast head and
deck
plate. The mast foot casting started to flake 10 years ago and I replaced
the
shoe portion that had ajustment slots with a non adjustable bronze casting
that the mast rests on. This casting rests on another piece of aluminium
that
is bedded and apparently screwed into the deck right over the beam. This
plate
had 4 threaded holes into which 4 SS bolts were threaded to hold the shoe
onto
the fixed plate. I had to epoxy the stainless screws into the plate this
year
as there weren't even a suggestion of thread left in the plate. I doubt the
mast is going to go any where with all the pressure on the foot but the yard
where I kept the boat gave me alot of grief about stepping the mast this
year.

I also have a fear of the cast aluminium "ears" on the masthead breaking and
letting the fore or backstay go. These were done before annodizing and I
don't
know what the life is. About 10 years ago I had some thin (1/8th
in.)Stainless
straps fitted on either side of the masthead, through which the gudgeons
holding the stays pass, which should hold the mast when the aluminum fails
but
they have probably only hastened the oxidation of the casting.

Can replacements for any of these parts be found and is there any experience
as to when or whether they should be replaced. For the mast foot/shoe it was
easy since the casting just turned to white powder over one winter.
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