[Rhodes22-list] Murphy's Law revisited

[Joe Camp]

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