I have a 1970 Gary Mull designed Ranger 26 that has a cracked
deckhead. Starting amidships and extending to port just inches aft of
the bulkhead, before entering the head and v-berth area, the crack is
six inches long and about an eighth inch at its widest. In addition,
there appears to be a small area of delamination just above the
dinette's forward bench on the same side but none in the area between
the crack and the dinette (there is about a foot between the crack and
the delamination). On deck, at the mast step and in the area
corresponding to the deckhead crack I see no visible signs of deck
compression nor does there appear to be any delamination corresponding
to the apparent delamination of the deckhead.

I purchased the boat, my first, with this damage and have sailed it
conservatively with no problems. I would, however like to make repairs
and wonder if there are any owners or former builders that can give me
insight into how the mast step is constructed above the cabin door to
the head and v-berth. I imagine the repair will entail removing the
mast and cutting out the deck in the affected area and replacing the
core and perhaps whatever sort of header is above the bulkhead beneath
the step.

I have search and read everything I can find on this boat but it is
old and not much information is available. Any help would be
appreciated.