Has anyone installed a support post beneath the mast on a CD Typhoon? I have a '71 Typhoon with the large support knees installed below deck where the chain plates are located--there is no headliner on my '71. There is a glassed-in steel support beam beneath the mast step but I'm not sure this is adequate support along with the knees. I've heard of problems on some Typhoons such as cracks around the chain plates, sloping of the foredeck aft, etc. due to the downward stress of the mast and the obvious lack of inside support such as a post or bulkhead. I do not have any of these problems but am wondering as to whether a support for the mast would be advisable. Your thoughts and comments would be appreciated.
jsullivan@ids.net
Mast Support for CD Typhoon?
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Richard Stephens
Re: Mast Support for CD Typhoon?
I installed the following as a prototype lastJim Sullivan wrote: Has anyone installed a support post beneath the mast on a CD Typhoon?
spring. I didn't want to make any permanent
modifications or invest in expensive hardwoods
until the setup proved effective and practical.
I made a 2-inch thick laminated ply pad shaped
to fit closely in the forward part of the cabin sole.
The cabin sole is glassed to the hull on either
side. I strengthened this area with additional
glass mat and resin.
The post is just a 2x4 stud, varnished. The load
is spread at the mast support beam with a horizontal
piece of 2x4. With the mast down, I made the post a
tight fit, requiring gentle tapping with a mallet
to fit it in place. When the mast was stepped and
the rigging tightened, the post was securely
held in place - I didn't use any fasteners.
The setup stayed in place through the summer and
I thought it worked well. The weak point is probably
in transfering the load from the cabin sole molding
to the hull.
Of course, the post does intrude into the accommodation
(I have to say, my fiancee is not too happy with it),
but I think it is a lot more effective than knees.
rstephens@alexusa.com
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Paul D.
Re: Mast Support for CD Typhoon?
Jim,
Both myself and my brother own Typhoons. Mine has no compression post and seems to be fine. His was raced before he bought it and has some crazing round the mast step and the shrouds were indeed loose. He epoxied an oak deck beam under the liner and put an oak compression post that slants from the cabin ceiling forward to the most forward part of the cabin sole. Under this is a small screw jack and a wooden block to spread the load. It works fine and still leaves him room for a porta potti abaft the post. We hang an old optimus stove off the post to boil water for tea. I believe that if you do any kind of hard sailing a post is a must. But if there are no signs of stress fractures on the cabin top, the shrouds don't seem to stretch and you sail in calm conditions, you could get away without one and enjoy the room below. Hope this helps.
Paul D. - Typhoon "Hornet"
nyeme001@tc.umn.edu
Both myself and my brother own Typhoons. Mine has no compression post and seems to be fine. His was raced before he bought it and has some crazing round the mast step and the shrouds were indeed loose. He epoxied an oak deck beam under the liner and put an oak compression post that slants from the cabin ceiling forward to the most forward part of the cabin sole. Under this is a small screw jack and a wooden block to spread the load. It works fine and still leaves him room for a porta potti abaft the post. We hang an old optimus stove off the post to boil water for tea. I believe that if you do any kind of hard sailing a post is a must. But if there are no signs of stress fractures on the cabin top, the shrouds don't seem to stretch and you sail in calm conditions, you could get away without one and enjoy the room below. Hope this helps.
Paul D. - Typhoon "Hornet"
nyeme001@tc.umn.edu