[Rhodes22-list] Gusset vs Compression Post

Wed Apr 22 15:51:45 EDT 2009

Paul, I am in agreement with the possibility of over tightening stays 
and shrouds. The mechanical advantage of a turn buckle screw is 
underestimated.  A sailing friend of ours has an O'Day 28 that the 
rugging kept getting loose and sloppy, After tightening several times 
an inspection of chaim plates, turnbuckles, swaged fittings etc. was 
completed, all good condition. The O'Day mast passes through the cabin 
roof and sole. The base of the mast was being pushed through the botton 
of the boat. Extensive reconditioning and rebuilding was required. 
Continued observation and knowing normal from abnormal will mitgate 
many problems. Jim J

Quoting Caesar Paul <caesarpaul01 at yahoo.com>:
> 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
> > __________________________________________________
> > To subscribe/unsubscribe or for help with using the mailing list go to
> > http://www.rhodes22.org/list
> > __________________________________________________
> >
>
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> To subscribe/unsubscribe or for help with using the mailing list go to
> http://www.rhodes22.org/list
> __________________________________________________
> __________________________________________________
> To subscribe/unsubscribe or for help with using the mailing list go to
> http://www.rhodes22.org/list
> __________________________________________________
>