rblaineebert
New Member
Any suggestions for replacing/repairing the entire capri 14 mast step structure? Has has anybody done this?
Bought a Mod 1 from 1984-86 earlier this year. It had been used by a local yacht club and stored outdoors in our notoriously wet conditions (Seattle). When I bought it I noticed some cracks around the mast step. Upon closer investigations it appears the plywood inside the cuddy that supports the wood mast step block had rotted and allowed for some movement. I had read, here, that there is not much pressure on the mast step so I was not too concerned. Also the boat was only $350, so I figured the risk was worth it.
Have taken her out in light-to-moderate winds with no issues. Well, took her out yesterday in 10-15kts with some heavier gusts. There was two of us aboard, +/- 380lbs hiking out. She was handling it well for about an hour and then without warning on a close-haul, bang! the mast went down. No shroud had broken. The noise was the wood block under the mast-step snapping under downward pressure. The mast collapsed down into the hull and then fell over under the wind. I am still unclear how this downward pressure would have been applied but clearly with the rotted out vertical supports, the wood block mast-step had weakened over time and was not strong enough. Additionally the steel shackle connecting the vang to the boom had snapped. I think this happened when the Vang encountered the edge of the hull on its way down but I am not sure.
Luckily, we had a trolling motor on board and made it back safe. Now for the repairs. I know I will need to replace the plywood vertical supports on both sides of the cuddy as well the wood block under the mast step. Have done a little fiberglass work but nothing structural like this. Anybody done anything like this? Any suggestions?
Bought a Mod 1 from 1984-86 earlier this year. It had been used by a local yacht club and stored outdoors in our notoriously wet conditions (Seattle). When I bought it I noticed some cracks around the mast step. Upon closer investigations it appears the plywood inside the cuddy that supports the wood mast step block had rotted and allowed for some movement. I had read, here, that there is not much pressure on the mast step so I was not too concerned. Also the boat was only $350, so I figured the risk was worth it.
Have taken her out in light-to-moderate winds with no issues. Well, took her out yesterday in 10-15kts with some heavier gusts. There was two of us aboard, +/- 380lbs hiking out. She was handling it well for about an hour and then without warning on a close-haul, bang! the mast went down. No shroud had broken. The noise was the wood block under the mast-step snapping under downward pressure. The mast collapsed down into the hull and then fell over under the wind. I am still unclear how this downward pressure would have been applied but clearly with the rotted out vertical supports, the wood block mast-step had weakened over time and was not strong enough. Additionally the steel shackle connecting the vang to the boom had snapped. I think this happened when the Vang encountered the edge of the hull on its way down but I am not sure.
Luckily, we had a trolling motor on board and made it back safe. Now for the repairs. I know I will need to replace the plywood vertical supports on both sides of the cuddy as well the wood block under the mast step. Have done a little fiberglass work but nothing structural like this. Anybody done anything like this? Any suggestions?