In May 2006, on the delivery of "Dream Girl", C&C 30 Mk I # 19(?) from Carabelle, FL to New Orleans after her purchase, we had the opportunity for our first sail as we crossed Mobile Bay. The mast step collapsed after about 30 minutes. I was fortunate that the collapse occurred in Mobile Bay as after Katrina, operational boatyards west of Mobile Bay were unlikely. After a 20 mile rolly motor up Mobile Bay with a very loose rig, I reached Dog River on the western shore of the bay. I knew Donnie Bremmam operated a business there. Donnie is well known across the Gulf Coast for his expertise fairing hulls and foils, and generally his fiberglass work. His reputation has earned him the position as boarwright for the US Olympic teams for the China and English Olympics. Donnie agreed to undertake the repair.
There was never any question that the mast would have to be unstepped. Once the material from the old step (plywood) was removed and used as a template for new stringers, Donnie had to cut out a section of the cabin sole on the right side of the step location in order to be able to get a grinder into the bilge sump to grind the area to adhere and tab in the new fiberglass stringers as described in the album repair guide. His fiberglass skills left the replaced section of cabin sole an almost seamless and invisible installation. Just looking at the work area, it would appear to be next to impossible to get tools and hands in to work under a jacked up mast. The repair consisted of fiberglass stringers glassed into the bilge. The spaces between the stringers was filled with epoxy/codial silica up to the top of the stringers. A section of PVC pipe sufficiently large enough for a socket allows allowed access to the forward keel bolt once the epoxy was poured. I would also install a length of PVC pipe fore and aft under the new step so that the area forward of the step will drain into the main bilge. A block of teak approximately 1 in. thick rest on top of the new stringers and under the metal shoe. The new mast step is as solid as anything on a 41 year old sailboat. Ed 1971 C&C 30 Dreamgirl (for sale) 1981 C&C 34 # 336 (Yet renamed) -----"CnC-List" <cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com> wrote: ----- To: <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> From: "Joe at Zialater" Sent by: "CnC-List" Date: 12/17/2012 05:23PM Subject: Stus-List 30 Mk1 Mast step repair Howdy Listers, I am new to the list and the new owner of a 1975 30 Mk 1. Overall she is in decent shape with a fwc A4 that runs well. Aside from needing major cleaning/polishing and lots of minor fixit stuff, she has one big ugly problem, the mast step is sagging and needs to be rebuilt. I have read up on the repair at cncphotoalbum and it looks doable for a winter project. I wonder, has anyone tried this repair without removing the mast completely? Perhaps jacking the mast up a few inches with some kind of rig from inside the cabin or from on deck? Any idea what the mast with rigging would weigh? It would save me the hassle of removing the mast and rigging, not to mention the crane fee. She is on the hard now. Cheers, Joe 1975 30 Mk 1 Mayo, MD _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album http://www.cncphotoalbum.com CnC-List@cnc-list.com
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