Mast Step

[Rich]

I was hoping someone here could help me. I just looked at a Pearson 35, in need of a lot of work. The one thing that worried me was the mast step and compression post. Is there a slight depression in the cabin top where the mast step sits? Thank you.

[mike99]

This is usually caused by deterioration of a wood block that is under the mast compression post in the head.[see projects section] It is time consuming to get to but not expensive, other than the fact that it must be done when the mast is off.
It is usually not urgent but should be adressed.

[Rich]

Thank you for the answer.

[Graham]

My planear is to do it without removing the mast. I have been advised by more than one person to simply loosen the rigging and to place a supporting structure with a couple of two by fours and some wood for the base and too . I already place one and removed and replaced the forward bulkhead. When I place the next support I should be able to raise the cabin slightly and the post and work underneath. I do have a question.. What is the best way to access the area?

[roverhi]

You can get to the step via the hatch that's in line with the head compartment. The mast post support is a block of mahogany that is glassed in on three sides. Not much working room. Probably need a multi-tool like the Feinl to be able to cut out the fiber glass and remove the block of wood, feintools-online.com/multimaster-supercut/fein-multimaster.html Fortunately Fein's patent appears to have run out and these tools are now made by most tool mfg if you don't want to spring for the Fein. I've got to do a bit more research before I commit to tearing out the mast post support. If it turns out to be needed am debating what to replace the block of wood with. Used a piece of high density plastic on the mast step on deck and it's working great with no fear of rot. That's through bolted so firmly held in place but can't do that with post block. Nothing sticks to this plastic so would be relying on laminations holding it in place. Also not sure how it would spread the load out as don't know how resistant to deflection this stuff is under the load of the mast.

The reason I'm hesitating tackling it as the block seems to be in decent shape. The indications of possible issues are the head door is binding under the tension that the rigger set up on the shrouds. I ran the rigging less taut than how he sit it up. Checked the tension on the wire and it's around 12% which isn't all that high a tension.

Your plan to do it in place should work fine. I jacked up the cabin top with a small trolley jack without the mast on the boat and it took little force to raise the deck up a 1/2" or so which is all you'd need. Keep us informed how the

[roverhi]

Went down to the boat and looked closely at the mast post support. It looks like a mahogany block about 9" x 7" x 3" high. It's laminated in with woven roving on three sides and partially over the top. The post just seems to be sitting on the block with no fasteners though the laminate holding the block in place may overlap the base plate of the post. The block is about 1/2" below the folded over roving laminate on the top. It looks almost like the block has settled/rotted away evenly to create this gap. The block itself doesn't appear to have any rot as I could feel no softness in the wood with my finger nails. Would have to cut the glass laminate and remove the block to be sure. The gap at the top that looks like settling could just be caused by the roving not wanting to make the 90 degree bend to bond to the top of the block. The way the block is laminated looks like it was done after the sole was in place and sure the fabricator wouldn't spend a lot of time getting a perfect layup. One of these days will get the interior back together and take the boat out see if there is any signs of problems with the mast post support under way. Will let you know what I find out but don't hold your breath, the interior rebuild is taking forever.

[gcastillo3]

Thanks for checking. On Saturday I did the assessment. I confirmed that the compression post was corroded and bent . The block was hard but compressed substantially and unevenly, perhaps because of the post corrosion and the uneven distribution of pressured caused. There is a gap between the block and the housing. The cabin is out of place. The step seems to be in good shape.

Go to : Compression post on a Pearson35 on Sailboat Forums to see the pictures I posted. That's a very good forum platform.

To be able to work in the area I removed the head door and wall. Since I'm also remodeling, I had already removed the forward bulkhead. We cut through the fiberglass piece inside the head's cabinetry, just enough to be able to do a good inspection and see what we were doing. Then, as you said, we used a cutting tool , it's like a vibrating saw, and cut through the fiberglass housing. That's when I was able to confirm the grave situation of the post, quite compromise by corrosion. The boat is so well built that the post remained in place. In fact, I''m putting everything back the same way, contrary to other people's opinion as to being over built.

To raise the cabin I'm using to hydraulic jacks, one of the that goes straight to the keel through the hatch and the other in the head with support to the keel from underneath the shower sole to avoid its collapse and other damages to the bulkhead structure.
Then I'm going to remove the post.I hope the hole that we did is sufficiently wide to pull the post out tilting it forward. Luckily I don't have the forward bulkhead in place yet.

I have to wait to weeks until I raise the cabin and remove the post. The guy rebuilding the post is out of town. For now I will also continue doing remodeling.
I have taken a number of pictures.

[gcastillo3]

By the way, I went to the web page to check out the tool , and that's quite similar, if not the same as the one that was used. That's a very handy piece of equipment.
One more thing. Take pictures of your compresision post and block and check for corrosion. If you are remodeling, it's the time to pull out that post . There is no way to pull that out without removing the head's cabinet , cutting through the fiberglass and to get clearance I believe the forward bulkhead has to be removed . I will confirm that.

[gcastillo3]

Are the screws holding the compression post from above the deck also hold the mast base plate.

I need to remove the corroded compression post and I need to assess the risk of doing this without removing the mast.
Thanks!

[roverhi]

Checked the boat today. The bolts/machine screws holding the mast base go through the support post flange underneath the deck on my early P35. Not a big deal to pull the fasteners out far enough to slide the post out if you need to. The base is just resting on the block at the base as far as I can tell. The block is canted a bit on my boat and the flat base of the post overhangs on forward port side. When I replace the support block will try and be more careful than whoever installed the block at the factory. Looking at the main bulkhead which floats on the cabin sole and is two piece affair scabbed together at the cabinet at the port side near the hull. The block rotting at it's base and its settling in the only thing that explains the interior part of the bulkhead being forced down by the cabin top and pulling away from the scab on its outboard side.

[gcastillo3]

i have exactly the same situation, but the cabin is caved in 3/4 of an inch to port and less than 3/8 to startboard, simply because the post is compromised and it bent to port pressing against the head's cabinet. Luckily the boat is well built.

[roverhi]

Pictures are at forums.sailboatowners.com/index.php?threads/compression-post-on-a-pearson35.177446/ Sure is an ugly piece of aluminum and wood. Wonder how the post got bent. That's a d**n stout piece of aluminum tubing.

[gcastillo3]

Ithe bent is at the base. The base is corroded to the point that it bent at the base to port. The post it self should be ok. It's ready to come out. I raised the cabin like 2\8 ' with the jacks and left it there so that it slowly falls into place. Next Saturday I will post some pictures.