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H20boy
1st Mate

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USA
31 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/24/2002 : 19:16:41

So I was taking the mast down in preparation to put "Thee and Me" on the trailer for the winter...all was fine and then, boom bang, crash, the mast plate that attached to the foredeck bolts and all ripped loose( appears to be rotten ) so now what ? that is my question...any way to fix this so it doesnt happen again.? Rick

Rick

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Leon Sisson
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1893 Posts

Response Posted - 10/24/2002 : 20:03:24

Rick,

You didn't mention, but I'm guessing you have an early Catalina 25 where the mast step hinge (a.k.a. tabernacle) was attached to the deck with four 1/4" stainless steel screws or lag bolts. After you repair any deck and core damage, I suggest you thru-bolt that thing down. As I understand it, the newer C-25s have thru-bolted tabernacles. I switched from lag bolts to thru-bolts when I installed a mast base plate for aft controls.

On my 1979 standard rig, the forward tabernacle bolt holes came through in the head area, no problem. But the aft two broke out right at the corners of the teak compression post. I had to carefully chisel two relief notches into the top of the post, so I could get the washers, nuts, and a wrench on the ends of the aft bolts.

When installing thru-bolts in a cored deck, I think it's a good idea to first drill the mounting holes 2x oversize. (If you drill slow and monitor your depth, it's even better to stop after drilling out the core, but before going through the lower layer of fiberglass.) Next, block the bottom of the (vertical) hole with a piece of tape. Then pour the hole full with fiber-reinforced epoxy resin, and let that harden. Finally, redrill the mounting hole to the correct diameter for the thru-bolt. This way there's a cast in place fiberglass & epoxy bushing around the mounting bolt protecting the core from crushing and/or rain water intrusion.

P.S. I hope you didn't ding your mast.

-- Leon Sisson

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Douglas
Master Marine Consultant

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1595 Posts

Response Posted - 10/25/2002 : 13:12:01

Aftr having this hapen to my wife and I we reworked the boat as stated above. The idea of filling the holes with resin or epoxy is right on the nose. The only other thing you are going to want to check is the roof material arounf the holes. Water getting past the bolt may have caused some rot in there. Make holes big enough to dig out the soft stuff and re pack or fill with epoxy or resin. let iy soak in realy good and add more if it needs a refill. After rework be sure to bed the mast plate with a good sealant NOT SILICONE.

Doug&Ruth
Boatless in Seattle
Tacoma Wa.

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pwhallon
Admiral

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USA
694 Posts

Response Posted - 10/26/2002 : 13:01:26

wow!,

What year did Catalina start through bolting the tabernacle?

Paul

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H20boy
1st Mate

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USA
31 Posts

Response Posted - 10/26/2002 : 16:58:55

Thanks for all the help....OH ya and thanks to the high voltage powerlines that caught the mast as she gave way...no dings. Thanks RICK

Rick

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Phredde
Navigator

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125 Posts

Response Posted - 10/28/2002 : 20:02:32

High Voltage Powerlines??? Then what happened??? C'mon Rick don't levae us hanging...

Phredde
Catalina 25
San Francisco

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H20boy
1st Mate

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USA
31 Posts

Response Posted - 10/29/2002 : 11:46:07

Being not the brightest, but with some experience in the fire service, we determined the powerlines were sealed...so I lifted, and my buddy pulled...all is well. Dont try this at home. Rick

Rick

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Danielle
Deckhand

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17 Posts

Response Posted - 10/30/2002 : 11:39:52

Douglas, You said NOT SILICONE...what do you suggest? Also, would it be too little to only thru bolt the foward bolts and leave the aft bolts bedded in the epoxy? I am concerned about chiseling in the 4x4 post. My mast is down now so I figure I should do this while she is sleeping.
Danielle
1980 C25 std rig
"First Look"

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 10/30/2002 : 17:45:30

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Douglas, You said NOT SILICONE...what do you suggest?
Danielle, in the event that Douglas does not return to this thread . . . silicone has some odd characteristics that make it an ineffective sealant in many marine applications. It's also horrible to remove after you've discovered it didn't stop the leak! If you anticipate ever having to take apart an application I'd recommend a polysulfide. It cures with moisture and allows you to disassemble whatever you've sealed with relative ease (relative to say 3M's 5200 adhesive sealant.)

Also, would it be too little to only thru bolt the foward bolts and leave the aft bolts bedded in the epoxy? Sort of the same answer as above - if you ever want/need to take this hardware apart in the future - you may regret having embedded your fasteners in epoxy. Leon described the preferred technique.
I saw a thread on different hardware failure the other day where they obtained repair instructions direct from Catalina. Since this is such a critical area, I'd be inclined to get the opionion of the manufacturer as well. 
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 10/30/2002 : 21:50:09

You can screw or bolt into epoxy as follows: Create a cavity and fill it with epoxy. Before it hardens, coat a screw or bolt with melted wax, and then push it down into the liquid epoxy and and wait for the epoxy to cure. Afterward, the epoxy will be perfectly "tapped" for the screw or bolt which will unscrew easily.

Dave Bristle - 1985 C-25 #5032 SR-FK-Dinette-Honda "Passage" in SW CT

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OJ
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4382 Posts

Response Posted - 10/31/2002 : 15:54:19

Well golly gee, ya learn something new everyday on the Catalina Forum <img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle> !

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