I've got a '78 C&C 26, which is a perfect boat for my needs. We're the 3rd owners and it had been well maintained, and I can't imagine any other boat I'd choose over Whisper for the type of sailing I'm doing these days. But it seems the mast step is failing and I'm wondering if anyone here has dealt with a similar issue.
The mast itself is stepped on the cabin top with a compression tube running down to the the bilge. The step seems to be a glassed-in piece of wood at the turns of the bilge that spans maybe 8 or 10 inches across, above the bolted-in keel/ballast. The compression tube looks to be a length of wood that just rests on the step and is held in place by a few screws through the bulkhead forward of it. I'm guessing the step has bowed from 40 years of constant pressure; I'm not sure how much it has dropped, but I can tell it is progressing -- it's been a couple years since I noticed the first little signs that something was happening and it's taken till now for me to understand it. I want to take care of this before it gets serious. The shrouds haven't loosened, but I'm sure it'll get to that point if I try to ignore it. I'm able to do the work myself, but am wondering if this is a known issue with these boats (a few years ago, before I noticed anything, someone told my they were parting out their 26 due to mast step/bulkhead problems and I'm thinking they were experiencing the same thing I am -- my bulkhead has now shifted about 3/4 inch). Anyone here have any experience with a similar situation on a C&C or have any light they can shed my direction? TIA Jim Hesketh C&C 26 Whisper Miami, FL
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