[Rhodes22-list] Murphy's Law revisited

[Lowe, Rob]

Joe,
How's your head?  Intact I would hope.  I've had the same thing happen twice now, once when lowering the mast and it somehow got away from us and crashed and pop out the mast step, but that was all.  That repair consisted of some longer screws and some 3M 5200.  The second time came while raising the mast.  I use the main halyard and the trailer winch to pull my mast up from the stern.  I didn't have enough "lift" on the mast so instead of it lifting up it came forward and popped the step off.  I filled in the holes a bit with some epoxy and back with some screws and more 5200.  I have now devised a mast holder that elevates the mast up off the stern rail so I don't repeat my last problem.  Who do you raise your mast?  Might be some room for improvements here.  I know Rummy uses the "Joe six-pack" method. - rob



-----Original Message-----
From: rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of Joe Camp
Sent: Thursday, July 14, 2011 7:35 PM
To: Rhodes List
Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Murphy's Law revisited

Hi All:

The events I am about to recount took place on the July 4th weekend.  I have waited a bit to put them down, partly because I was away from a reliable computer and partly because leaving them alone for a couple of weeks has allowed them to settle in my realization of the validity of Murphy's Law, an axiom with which I am all too familiar.  OK...

I moved my boat from NC to PA. I am now back in NC (a bit lonely in sailing terms).  And I have had time to digest the worst:  Never mind all of the details, but suffice it to say that, while stepping the mast down, it came crashing aft without warning and conked me in the head (a glancing blow, but still an ouch). Naturally, I tore out the step, and when the mast hit the pop top slide, it crushed a 6 inch hole in the grip-ridge (or whatever it's called, used to pull the slide up and back) along the aft edge.  

Based on what I have read, the mast bracket will be a 1,2,3 fix.  Though I would still like to hear from anyone who has first hand experience with this repair.  The pop-top slider will be more difficult.  The ridge is hollow beneath the surface, and it is broken right through. I don't know if this is a "resin" sort of fix.  Is there something more substantial I can use to mold a repair thick enough to take the wear and tear this piece usually gets?

A long time sailboat friend once told me that owning a boat is a simple mater of waiting for crap to happen.   I have the rest of the season to do the repairs.  I also want to repair some scratches in the hull gelcoat.  They are not deep, but through the paint. Are these something I can just paint over, or will I need gelcoat for them as well?  I can send out photos, but not till mid August, when I am back in the boat's neighborhood.  Thanks.

(the hapless)  Joe Camp
s/v John Dawson
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