[Public-List] Mast Beam Variation

[John S. Riley]

Michael Connolly wrote:
> I have been advised by this group to just attach the aluminum plates but I don't want to mess up the appearance of the boat by doing so.

Hi Michael,

Of course, your boat, your choice.  But I'm wondering if there is a way 
to have the best of both worlds (a stronger beam and keep the looks).  
Why not reinforce even your NEW beam with Al sisters, then attach a thin 
wooden laminate over that so that the reveal is wood?

Also, the new boats don't have a wood beam there, and to my eye, the 
beam doesn't look THAT bad (on 521, it's painted to blend in with the 
overhead).

> The original wooden laminate lasted 40 plus years.  The adhesive is what has failed not the wood.  With new better adhesive I suspect that this will last another many years and look just as nice as the original.
>   

I'm wondering if the question to ask is "why did that adhesive fail?"  
Seems to me it has to have at least a LITTLE to do with the working of 
the beam as the rig compression oscillated while the boat is being sailed.

-- 
John
s/v Gaelic Sea
#521 (new boat, different beam system anyway)