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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Damaged Mast Mount - Advice needed

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rcpluto
Deckhand

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USA
1 Posts

Initially Posted - 05/03/2010 : 08:59:39

Hello all - I have a 1982 Catalina 25 Tall Rig. I have a wood frame that I use when dry docked through winter to support a tarp. The frame is mounted and secured to numerous positions on the boat, including the mast mount. We had an unusually tough winter in NY and when uncovering the boat I was distressed to see that the combination of wind and ice had caused the vertical wood beam that I had mounted to the mast mount to severely twist to the side. As a result, 2 of the 4 bolts that secured the mast mount to the roof of the cabin and the compression post below were ripped clean out. There does not appear to be any damage to the roof of the cabin, or to the compression post below.
How bad is this?
Will I be able to simply install longer bolts into the compression post?
Any other suggestions?

RC Pluschau

Edited by - on

tbosch
Navigator

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163 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2010 : 09:53:10

If it were me, I would drill out the damaged holes with a bit considerably larger than the original holes and then fill with thickened epoxy. Then you can drill new pilot holes and reinstall the base. Should be good as new or even better!

I've done similar repairs using the West System Epoxy and their 406
Colloidal Silica filler. Just make sure it is not so thick that you can't fill the hole without voids. If you mix it too thick you will have to mash it into the holes. It needs to be just runny enough that you can pour it in and fill with no voids.

edit: I would wet the holes with un-thickened epoxy first. Mix a batch of epoxy and "paint" the holes with it. Then add the filler and get it to the consistency you want and then go back and fill the holes. The clear epoxy gets into cracks and porous material better and creates a bond to the thickened epoxy. It is easy to do and makes a rock solid, good as new repair.

Edited by - tbosch on 05/04/2010 04:40:10

pfduffy
Captain

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USA
317 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2010 : 12:51:55

I'm going to highjack this thread and ask about the overdrill / fill process. What do you use inside to seal the bottom of the hole while the epoxy dries? I'm fearful of ending up with a big mess inside if I do this wrong when I finally mount my deck organizers, clutches, etc.

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JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 05/03/2010 : 12:59:11

I'd just fill the holes with Marine Tek and move the plate slightly, and drill new holes. I've done that on my boat with zero problems. The new mast plate is well caulked.

Keep it centered, moving the plate fore or aft 1/4 inch is not going to change the way it sails.

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tbosch
Navigator

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163 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2010 : 04:26:31

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by pfduffy
 I'm going to highjack this thread and ask about the overdrill / fill process. What do you use inside to seal the bottom of the hole while the epoxy dries? I'm fearful of ending up with a big mess inside if I do this wrong when I finally mount my deck organizers, clutches, etc.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

If the holes you drill go all the way through the material you can put tape over the inside of the holes to create a bottom. This works pretty well if you are not mashing something of paste consistency into the hole.

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cks
Navigator

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126 Posts

Response Posted - 05/04/2010 : 08:32:20

I vote for filling the holes with epoxy and redrilling- i get my material from tap plastics: http://www.tapplastics.com/shop/category.php?bid=2& .

I would NOT take any shortcuts like using longer bolts. demasting would be nasty. Once you get the measurements down, it's pretty simple.

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wmuchmore
1st Mate

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USA
56 Posts

Response Posted - 05/17/2010 : 09:48:25

I had a similar problem with my mast plate and did as described here. If you need stainless steel screws or bolts in sizes you can't get locally, boltdepot.com is an online source. They ship small quantities.

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.