terry_thatcher
Terence Thatcher
Has anyone ever cut the bottom out of the mast bucket on a 382 and put the mast down directly on the lead, like on the 383 and 384? Thanks.
It is hull #232.Remarkable photos. my bucket does not have the vertical supports that yours appears to have. My bucket has sunk slightly over the years, but there has been no glass breaks or failed glass bonds. What boat number do you own? I have 163.
This is a very convincing explanation. It satisfies Occam's razor. Reinforcing or rebuilding the bucket is the way to go. Stepping down any lower just adds too many variables, and like everyone says during these conversations - this method of mast support has worked for 40-odd years and we don't hear any stories about step or bucket failures...I think the bucket was conceived as a way to spread the mast downward loads. It is part of the internal glass unit that provides the base for the cabin sole, onto which the glass fuel tank is attached, and which forms the cavities into which the port and starboard water tanks sit. It is bonded to the hull (and maybe some of the bulkheads) with what one member has said is very solid glass connections. If that all worked, then the mast loads would be spread and there would not just be one point load on the top of the keel, trying to put a hole in the bottom of the boat. In my case, I think some work was done in the recall to better tie the bucket to the hull and put some "goop" under the bucket itself. (My head aft head bulkhead is well attached to to the hull, the lack of which, I think, drove the recall.) But, after 40 years, although there is no bonding failure, my bucket has sunk a measurable amount. I think Jim Cleary told me Vixen had shown a similar decline. I am just living with it and worrying a bit. My only advice, rather contrary perhaps to my first post, is not to eliminate the bucket and step directly on the top the keel without having a very competent naval architect, versed in mast and shroud dynamics, consider the issue.
It is basically impossible to get a steady shot without setting the phone down. I thought about sticking an old tripod down in the bilge but I ended up just setting my phone on the shelf aft of the bilge below the fuel tank to steady it. I want to do it again with a flashlight set up closer to the bucket for better illumination under there.I'm heading out to the boat for our last weekend cruise of the season. I'm going to try to replicate Travis's amazing photo on Dana. I know my bucket (hull # 53) has dropped almost 1/2" in 42 years, taking the cabin sole around it with it. I don't know it the dropping is because the mish mash of glass under the bucket has deteriorated or that the hull has changed shape or the lead in the keel has settled. Be back on monday!
Jim
After fussing around down there, I think I would have to agree. I was considering pulling the mast before a cruise we are planning next summer but I think this little exercise has convinced me to just re-rig with the mast in place. Even though the situation below the bucket is a little odd, the 'gob' feels very sturdy, and the rig stays tuned.This appears to be a case of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".
Jim
Jim,Oops! I don't think the photo posted! Here it is. Sorry.
Jim
Terry,I don't think I have pvc pipe through the blob to help the drainage. So things have dropped 1/2" even with the blob. That must have been part of the recall. Surely they could have done a better job if the bilge was open during initial construction.