[Public-list] Mast Beam & Mast Step

[George Dinwiddie]

Jim,

It sounds like the deck core has rotted under and around the mast step. 
  I don't know any alternative but to recore that area.  I don't think 
that injecting resin provides a good long-term repair.  Best to grind 
out all the rotten balsa and do the job right, in my opinion.

  - George

Jim & Carole wrote:
> Fellow Albergers,
> 
> Let me start by thanking George Dinwiddie For getting the website  and 
> online list up and running.
> 
> I thought this would be an easy spring to  prepare for the sailing season, 
> that is until I noticed the rigging appeared to have loosened over the 
> winter. I now have a bulge protruding from the cabin top that won't allow 
> the door to the head to close. The bulge appears to be on the on the 
> for/aft centerline approximately 5 inches aft of the main beam, or below 
> the aft end of the mast step. Topside the cabin top is slightly concave at 
> the aft end of the mast step.
> 
> I have read the article for reinforcing the main  beam  for newer boats 
> (mine is #565) in the A30 manual by Cy Fishburn. I have noticed some 
> deflection of the liner that supports the port side v-berth bulkhead.  What 
> I am trying to determine is if that deflection is sufficient to cause the 
> bulge, and if jacking up the beam and  supporting the bulkheads will cure 
> the problem as the beam only supports the forward half of the mast step.
> 
> I should add that about 12 years ago when I first purchased the boat the 
> balsa core around the mast step was wet from water entering at the forward 
> hatch hinges and two holes through the deck, one for the antenna wire and 
> one for the mast wires. At that time I made a tool of 18 in. long of 5/16 
> Dia drill rod bent on one end to a sharpened hook that I used to remove the 
> wet core and scrape clean inside surfaces of the upper and lower fiberglass 
> laminates. I did this for an area of  about 10 -12 inches around the mast 
> step. After wetting out the laminates I stuffed the area with chopped 
> strand fiberglass thickened with high density filler. The area has always 
> felt solid and strong.
> 
> I would appreciate any and all advcie. Thank you in advance
> 
> Jim Allocco
> Barchetta Mia #565

-- 
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
   When I remember bygone days                         George Dinwiddie
   I think how evening follows morn;            gdinwiddie at alberg30.org
   So many I loved were not yet dead,           http://www.Alberg30.org
   So many I love were not yet born.
                                             'The Middle' by Ogden Nash
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------




 1082831014.0