[Rhodes22-list] Gusset vs Compression Post

[Caesar Paul]

Hi Jim,
 
I am glad that you shared a bit of your experience with our boat.  Many of us on the list are listening and learning, so that if and when we have a problem, we will not be entirely in the dark about what is happening and more importantly, how to fix it.  Thanks for your observation, and keep sharing them.  You are 14 years into this, and I have not completed my first year as yet.  Lots to learn here.
 
As a new bee to boat ownership and sailing, it appears to me that part of the fun is discovering more and more about how things work, learning that components wear out, and  the importance of developing a "critical eye" to catch and correct things before bad things happen.  Like the time I notice a cotter pin on one of my back-stay without the locking ring.  Oups!  Where did that ring go? 
 
I will accept that age has a part to play in "compression post issues," but could the bigger culprit be over-tightening these stays on the boat?  To keep a mast perpendicular to a hull does not require tight stays.  All that is needed is for four stays at 90 degrees apart to balance, or keep the mast straight up in the mast.
 
With this being the case, if a sailor is on a tack, say a port tack, the stays on the port side will become taut, and the stays on the opposite side will become slack because it is bearing no load.  If a nervous, or over conscientious sailor tightens these slack looking stays, and when he is on an opposite tack tightens those slack looking stays, he will in effect, be driving his mast into his deck, into his compression post, into his floor stringers, into his keel.  One can imagine what this will do to the various parts of a boat over the years.
 
Correct me if I'm wrong.
 
The fact that the Rhodes 22 stands up admirably to this over conscientiousness is a testimony to Stan the builder.
 
Caesar 
Gentle Breeze
1984 Recycled 2008   
 


--- On Tue, 4/21/09, jimtracyjohnston at centurytel.net <jimtracyjohnston at centurytel.net> wrote:


From: jimtracyjohnston at centurytel.net <jimtracyjohnston at centurytel.net>
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Gusset vs Compression Post
To: "The Rhodes 22 Email List" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 9:52 PM


I have been following the comments on the mast support issue(s). When I 
inspected the floor area under the divider wall between the head and 
galley the plywood floor was noticeable bowed down. Under this area is 
the cement material over the keel. I'm not a naval engineer but it sure 
looks like the mast is supported by the cabin roof, that is supported 
by a post that is part of the divider wall, that is supported by the 
3/4" plywood floor. I cut a 4"x6" piece of treated wood to fit in the 
void between the bottom of the floor and top of the keel. The wood was 
flat on top to fit even with the floor (push it back up) and a 
rounded/taper to fit the contour of the area over the keel. This filler 
piece had to be forced into the area under the floor. The floor is now 
level. Remember the part I mentioned about no engineer experience. It 
is possible I have applied too much pressure on the keel area and the 
keel will fall off soon. I have owned our Rhodes-22 for over 14 years 
and other small sail boats prior. Note; I did NOT say I was a sailor. 
Leaks around centerboard trunk, (been there), outboard motor mount 
vibrating loose from boat while motor running, (yup), headsail jammed 
reefing, (some fun), rudder pushed off pintle/gudgeon, (watch out), 
anchor in one area at 2400 hours, new scenery at 0700 hours, (good 
moning neighbor). I sure enjoy reading about other boat owner(s) tails 
I mean tales. Jim J "LOON" '86 Rhodes, Torch Lake MI. 

Quoting Blue Heron <sloopblueheron at gmail.com>:
> Finally, the issue has been resolved.  The yard that replaced my mast step
> is concerned that since the new step is more rigid than the original, any
> flexing will go beyond the step causing the gelcoat on the cabin top to
> crack.  So they were trying to figure out how to take all the weight of the
> mast directly to the keel. 
>
> They were thinking a gusset mounted on the longitudinal bulkhead for the
> head and extending under the mast would be stronger than the compression
> post I put in.  Based on Stan's advice, my post is stepped on the lateral
> stringer that raises the cabin sole for the head. 
>
> With temperatures in the 70's promised for this weekend, I told them it is
> time to decide and give me back my boat.  Amazingly, they now agree with
> Stan.  Go figure. 
>
> Rick
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