Black Locust is, in my view and many professional boatbuilders views, the gold standard of boatbuilding timber. If you have access to it, use it. Use heartwood if you can, it's more rot resistant. They old timers used to say that BL lasts about 5 years longer than granit. There isn't a better wood in north America for a mast step in your C&C than BL. In fact, I have a stash and for a modest stipend might be persuaded to part with some if someone needed a step and was willing to pay shipping. I'll even cut it to whatever size you request. Daniel
________________________________ From: CnC-List <cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com> on behalf of Steve Thomas via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Sent: September 1, 2020 10:17 AM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> Cc: Steve Thomas <sthom...@bellnet.ca> Subject: Re: Stus-List C&C29 MK1 Mast Step Replacement On the subject of wood choices: 1. Yes oak, but not red oak, which is the stuff most readily available around here. Red oak is not rot resistant. 2. I have recently found out that Black Locust is very hard and rot-resistant. I have a small tree which I have to take down but is don't know if it is large enough to produce wood with those characteristics. I need new handrails and I was thinking of using that. Does anyone know if it has to be heartwood or does that matter in the case of this species? ---- Doug Robinson via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: Yep, been there, done that and got the T shirt. First time I noted the problem was when attending my first Owners meeting Rob Mazza asked the assembled owners how many had replaced the mast step and six or eight hands went up. OMG wots this? Second time on Saturday Morning before heading out to the YYC Level regatta we couldn't get the rig to tune. Damn mast step collapsed so the racing crew hunkered the mast up and we unscrewed the block and ran off to Scotty our shipwright in the yard and of course he had a block of oak in inventory for just such an occasion. He and our ship's carpenter (and mainsail trimmer by avocation) slipped in the new block and screwed it in place. It was then we observed that he drilled a limber hole in the block under the mast and swaged in a stainless drain pipe with the end knurled over to drain the stuff that comes down the mast. (Lesson #1). Whole procedure took 45 minutes and we converted a DNS to a late start and DNF for the first race. That was 1990 and we have since replaced it again, this time soaking the block for months in preservation chemicals. (Lesson #2) The real problem comes when the stringers under the block collapse due to the fact that they are not encased in fiberglass on the bottom. Then you have to cut out the cabin sole and re glass in new stringers (and upgrade the sole to a nicer teak and holley deck). That project would be above my paygrade and I would have some of the C&C alumni in the club tackle that. I have seen it done once in our yard. Meantime make damn sure the bilge stays dry and fit a garboard plug to keep that way while up on the cradle for the winter. (Lesson #3) It's no big deal and we have had discussions about casting an aluminum pillow block but its just easier and faster to fit a new oak block. Doug Robinson On 8/31/20 1:41 PM, Lee Goss via CnC-List wrote: > Dear C&C List members, > > I have a C&C29 MK1 and over the weekend the mast step failed and the > mast sank about 4 or 5 inches! > > We suspect this is due to the mast step block having rotten away. But > we won't know for sure until the mast is removed on Saturday. > > We're hoping to fix the issue well enough to enjoy the remainder of > the season on Lake Michigan. Does anyone have any advice on the best > way to do this? > > Furthermore, if anyone has photos of the process of replacing the mast > step or dimensions for the block of wood etc we'd really appreciate > it. At this point in time, we've never seen the mast step and don't > know precisely what we're going to need to make the repair. > > For reference: here's photos of the damage: > https://photos.app.goo.gl/u9GBQpsTzUWkmrhZA > > Many thanks in advance for any help. > Lee _______________________________________________ Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each and every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray
_______________________________________________ Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each and every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray
