Crack in mast support beam
Some advice please.
I had just finished off getting my Vivacity 20 yacht ready for the coming season when I made a rather alarming discovery (that's sailing for you: a succession of alarming discoveries interspersed with the occasional sail!). I noticed a large crack in the arched beam that runs under the foredeck around the bend where it dips to run under the port side deck.. The beam is presumably intended as a support for the deck-stepped mast. On investigation, I noticed that this had been previously filled (with silicone!) and painted over by a previous owner. I bought the boat last year and sailed all last season without any obvious problems, and for all I know the crack may have been there for years before I bought the boat. On probing the crack, which runs all the way around, I found there was solid material beneath (i.e. the beam does not appear to have broken all the way through). I am wondering whether all that has happened is that the GRP that sheathes the beam has cracked and whether I need to worry about structural integrity? Why has the crack reopened? Has this been caused by mast compression (maybe overtightened shrouds)? I intend to fill the crack with a good epoxy product: will this be sufficient, or do I need to investigate more radical solutions? These old Russell Marine boats were built pretty chunkily, so I'm hoping that I don't need to embark on major repairs or adaptions. |
Crack in mast support beam
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Crack in mast support beam
I may be telling you something you already know, but a 'trick' I have used
to fill cracks is to get a syringe with a large needle and inject the epoxy deep. Here in the states, these syringes and needles can be bought at a farm supply store. They're used for cattle. Could be that you just found a natural fault in the wood. I would get the silicone cleaned out, fill the crack as deep as possible and keep an eye on it. :) If no other stress cracks open up, you're probably OK. wrote in message ... Some advice please. I had just finished off getting my Vivacity 20 yacht ready for the coming season when I made a rather alarming discovery (that's sailing for you: a succession of alarming discoveries interspersed with the occasional sail!). I noticed a large crack in the arched beam that runs under the foredeck around the bend where it dips to run under the port side deck.. The beam is presumably intended as a support for the deck-stepped mast. On investigation, I noticed that this had been previously filled (with silicone!) and painted over by a previous owner. I bought the boat last year and sailed all last season without any obvious problems, and for all I know the crack may have been there for years before I bought the boat. On probing the crack, which runs all the way around, I found there was solid material beneath (i.e. the beam does not appear to have broken all the way through). I am wondering whether all that has happened is that the GRP that sheathes the beam has cracked and whether I need to worry about structural integrity? Why has the crack reopened? Has this been caused by mast compression (maybe overtightened shrouds)? I intend to fill the crack with a good epoxy product: will this be sufficient, or do I need to investigate more radical solutions? These old Russell Marine boats were built pretty chunkily, so I'm hoping that I don't need to embark on major repairs or adaptions. |
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