[Rhodes22-list] Foredeck support bracket

[Herb Parsons]

OK, that does make it sound like a compression support issue; however, 
were it me, I'd still do a little more checking on fiberglass integrity.

Basically, the support system for the mast should work as designed. When 
it begins to fail on a boat, it's seldom because a different design is 
needed, it's usually because something needs to be fixed.

Before I started making cabin mods, here's what I'd do:

Inspect the deck/cabin fiberglass. Get a screwdriver and use the handle 
to tap the deck near the mast. See if it sounds substantially different 
than spots in the same general area, but far enough away that water 
intrusion wouldn't be an issue. If it "sounds mushy", I'd look at minor 
core repairs (what I would do is inject slow curing epoxy into the core).

If that doesn't seem to be a problem, or if you do such a repair and it 
still doesn't work, I'd inspect all of the compression support. See if 
any connectors have loosened or if the compression support itself has 
problems.

"Redesign" would be the last thing on my list to do.


Andrew Collins wrote:
> Herb
>
> Yes, the 'sandwich' of gelcoat, core and cabin liner move as one. The core
> is wood. The aft inner corners of the interior hatch trim frames move down
> under compression and back up for winter storage.
>
> Andrew
>
> On Wed, Dec 31, 2008 at 4:52 PM, Herb Parsons <hparsons at parsonsys.com>wrote:
>
>   
>> Andrew,
>>
>> Can you see compression of the ceiling inside the cabin? By this I mean,
>> is it possible that the .25" you're seeing is the gelcoat only
>> compressing, and not the entire fiberglass shell?
>>
>> I would look to see if the ceiling is compressing as well. If not, my
>> suspicions would lie with your core material in the fiberglass, in which
>> case shoring up your compression post won't do anything for you.
>>
>>
>> Andrew Collins wrote:
>>     
>>> The foredeck, concretely the area forward of the mast binnacle which in
>>>       
>> my
>>     
>>> '86 (recycled 2006) depresses about .25" as soon as the mast is raised.
>>> There is a hatch on both the port and starboard sides. The port hatch was
>>> there in '06, the starboard one was added in '06. My feeling is the arch
>>> formed by the top of the cabin trunk has been weakened a bit by the
>>>       
>> removal
>>     
>>> of the material which allowed the installation of the hatches.
>>> More info:  no cracking of the gelcoat or cabin liner is evident; to
>>>       
>> casual
>>     
>>> observation my 200+ lbs weight on the spot between the hatches causes no
>>> additional deflection; the depressed spot returns to the original shape a
>>> few days after stepping the mast; on this boat the compression post is
>>>       
>> aft
>>     
>>> and to port of the mast step.
>>>
>>> My bright idea is to make a wooden bracket jig (later to be duplicated in
>>> stainless steel) that would attach under the mast step  and on the
>>> compression post. This diagonal member would be about 8-10" long and have
>>> plates at both under the deck and at the compression post to allow for
>>>       
>> the
>>     
>>> generous use of screws. This will interfere with the head curtain, which
>>> could be lowered.
>>>
>>> Has anyone had a similar problem? Since the flexing seems to be within
>>>       
>> the
>>     
>>> limits of what the structure can take, i.e. it is not permanent and no
>>> damage results, is the brighter idea to do nothing?
>>>
>>> Andrew
>>> sv Carmen
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>>>
>>>
>>>       
>> --
>> Herb Parsons
>>
>>
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-- 
Herb Parsons