Hi Dave, As an M 17 owner of a 1978 hull I am very interested in how the mast step is constructed and how to fix Rick's type of damage. Would you be willing to write a piece here on how to handle the situation? Thank you for your consideration, Tom B, M17 #258, 1978 On Sun, Mar 23, 2014 at 2:22 PM, Dave Scobie <wdscobie@yahoo.com> wrote:
Rick.
Yes , my opinion of your photos is, you have balsa damage. I suggest you do not sail the boat. You can see where the compression post has pushed up into the cabin top because the balsa core has become saturated, rotted, and compressed. Give me a call tomorrow, Monday, at 800 - 621 - 1064. When we talk we can discuss things you can look at to further evaluate the situation and talk you through how to go about a repair. I am at the number listed after 8 a.m. Mountain time until 5 or 6 p.m. Mountain time.
:: Dave Scobie
Rick Davies <jdavies104@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi all,
I'd like to solicit the experts for some advice. I've attached some pictures of damage to the cabin overhead below the mast step that I just found today when I was getting the boat ready for spring sailing. It looks as if there's a leak around the step which has deposited some crud into the light dome, and I found a few drops of dried rusty water on the V berth directly underneath. In the past I have sometimes found a little water in the well below the compression post next to the battery, but thought it came through the post along the wire bundle coming from the mast. I don't quite understand how the fittings around the step are attached to the compression post, nor how the weight is distributed.
My questions are:
Is the boat safe to sail?
How serious is the apparent damage? How can I assess it in more detail?
How can I find out if there's water in the balsa core? There doesn't seem to be any sponginess yet.
I've never done fiberglass work myself, so I'd need a yard if this is going to involve major reconstruction. Does any one know a yard in the DC - Annapolis area they'd recommend for this type of work?
Sure would appreciate any advice and help I can get.
Thanks,
Rick M17 #633 Lynne L