When I looked at, "The Typhoon Slip," under the sinking deck guest article I was shocked because a typhoon I looked at had the exact same problem. This is apparently caused by a lack of support under the mast. I've noticed that all of the smaller Cape Dory boats have deck-stepped masts without a compression post underneath. How would one install a compression post? My major concern is that a compression post merely transfers any load to the bottom of the compression post. Where is the best place to spread this load?
HOOPS3350@aol.com
Compression Post Necessary?
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Tom Coons
Re: Compression Post Necessary?
C.C. wrote: When I looked at, "The Typhoon Slip," under the sinking deck guest article I was shocked because a typhoon I looked at had the exact same problem. This is apparently caused by a lack of support under the mast. I've noticed that all of the smaller Cape Dory boats have deck-stepped masts without a compression post underneath. How would one install a compression post? My major concern is that a compression post merely transfers any load to the bottom of the compression post. Where is the best place to spread this load?
Transferring the load to the bottom of the compression is exactly the idea of a compression post and what you need. The bottom of the post should be right on the keel, not on anything that can flex or give such as the deck or cabin top. You might just use something like a 1" galvanized pipe and a pipe flange on each end. Available at any hardware store. Measure carefully and then you can make fine adjustments by screwing the pipe flanges backand forth. This is cheap but crude. For something more elegant you might check other boat manufacturers and see if something would work by cutting it down or something like that. If you have deep pockets go to you local stainless steel machine shop and have them make up something. Tom
TacCambria@thegrid.net