Cape Dory Typhoon Compression Post

[jim trandel]

I would like to know if or when the Ty was manufactured with a S/S compression post in the cabin. Is this a owner modification or a production addition at some point in time?[/b]

[Markst95]

To my knowledge non came from the factory with a post. They are usually added later to either fix a sagging cabintop caused by overtightening the rigging or to help prevent it. I installed mine for the latter reason.

[jim trandel]

Thanks Markst95 for your help. I am very close to a Ty purchase and I need all the info I can get. My biggest problem is the boat has no trailer and its quite remote. Any suggestions?

Thanks again.

[John383]

In my Ty, the compression post actually sits directly on the cabin floor- there is no holed drilled through for it to sit on the bilge surface...is this a bad idea? (There is cracking of the floor, but that seems to originate from the bilge access hole near the companionway...)

John Wiecha
Boston area

[Jim Buck]

John,

You may want to think about placing some blocking under the floor. You are placing a point load on the floor and it may flex or fail. Some solid wood shimming under the floor should alleviate any potential problems.

Jim

[John383]

Jim- great idea....thanks so much-- hadn't thought of that!
John W.

[Dick Villamil]

I made a support out of 2 x 10 pressure treated wood that was beveled and shaped to fit over the cabin floor then a block that fit over the mast bolts under the mast. I attached a thin metal plate under two 1" stanchion sockets - one above and one below then used two lengths of 1" stainless tubing with some all-threaded rod (3/4" with washers and nuts to extend the height so the cabin wouldn't compress. Wood received 3 coats of Helmsman Urethane so it looked nautical. This last summer was the first and it worked amazingly well. No stres cracks in the cabin sole and the riggng remained as I tightened it originally (not bowstring tight since I am not racing this litle dream boat). If I want to remove it for access to the interior berths it is easy to do. I used a 12" piece of all-thread but will replace it with an 18" piece so it doesn't "cant" when tightened. I am very pleased with this setup and total cost was about $50. There are no holes in the cabon flor, no need to replace the mast support bolts with longer ones and the unit is completely removable but doesn;t move around at all.

[Markst95]

I wanted mine to be a true king post from the mast straight through to the keel. After drilling the hole for the post I cut a piece of 3" PVC so it would fit tightly underneath the hole. I cut the balsa out around the edges of the floor hole about an inch in (there was some core rot anyway). I centered the post in the PVC pipe and filled it with a mix of epoxy, chopped glass, and colloidal silica till it filled up even with the floor. I used a piece of teak screwed into the ceiling to support the top. Its rock solid and gives the added benefit of helping to support the floor.

[Norm Robinson]

I made a support out of 2 x 10 pressure treated wood that was beveled and shaped to fit over the cabin floor then a block that fit over the mast bolts under the mast. I attached a thin metal plate under two 1" stanchion sockets - one above and one below then used two lengths of 1" stainless tubing with some all-threaded rod (3/4" with washers and nuts to extend the height so the cabin wouldn't compress. Wood received 3 coats of Helmsman Urethane so it looked nautical. This last summer was the first and it worked amazingly well. No stres cracks in the cabin sole and the riggng remained as I tightened it originally (not bowstring tight since I am not racing this litle dream boat). If I want to remove it for access to the interior berths it is easy to do. I used a 12" piece of all-thread but will replace it with an 18" piece so it doesn't "cant" when tightened. I am very pleased with this setup and total cost was about $50. There are no holes in the cabon flor, no need to replace the mast support bolts with longer ones and the unit is completely removable but doesn;t move around at all.

Do you have any photos of this installation that you could share. I like the idea of a wood compression post.

Norm