| Author | Message | ||
     Scott Corder (Pastcommodore) Rating: N/A |
Jeff, Although my memory on some matters is foggy, a few thoughts come immediately to mind: First, I can't remember if the original stringer under my maststep was one or two pieces. However (a BIG however), it became very apparent to us that the replacement should be a single piece in order to solidify the transfer of loads in as uninterrupted a manner from the chain plates through the bulkheads to the keel. A single piece stringer presents the most inflexible way to accomplish this. My previous descriptions of my repairs should bear this out. Two pieces simply allows far too much opportunity for flex and possible disconnection under the mast step. Again, we positioned the stringer to bear the load of both the mast and the loads being carried down through the chain plates. I am of the opinion that compression alone does not address the desire of the boat to "fold" in from the sides under pressure from the rigging. Also, the mast step itself does not appear to experience significant loads fore/aft. Hence, we focused on the downward load primarily. This is why we built the remainder of my new mast step around the new stringer. All this sort of eliminates the quandry over lag bolts vs. tabbing. The fact is, the mast compresses the step enough to hold it in place to some extent. The stringer is what you want to prevent from moving in any way. If it stays put, everything else will follow suit. I'll reply to your keel bolt questions in that thread of posts to the board. |
