Hurley 22 mast foot reinforcement

[Guest]

I have some problems with the reinforcements underneath the mast foot. In the very front of the reinforcement, the joint between the cabin ceiling and the board used as reinforcement has come loose, almost along its entire length in the front.

Both the ceiling and the reinforcement board have been pressed down during sailing and now, when the ceiling is not under pressure, there is a space like 1-1,5cm between the ceiling and the board. I suppose this has occured when sailing a lot with spinnaker, causing the mast a little forward and thereby causing a pressure in the front of the mast foot.

Does anyone have some ideas of how to deal with this problem? Is this a typical Hurley 22 problem? Please give me some advice!

 

[Guest]

The problem you have is quite common with Hurley's, The load bearing plywood bulkhead deflects over time. Our Hurley "Dancing dream" has some minor distortion of the bulkhead, been seen by both surveyor and boat builder, who said to leave alone. However yours is a lot worse. It is quite common to put in a load bearing stanchion which is located directly under the mast foot transferring the load to the hull. another solution is to replace the bulkhead completely, they tend to be screwed into position.

Your best bet would be to serch for the Hurley website, GOOgle.com a good search engine

 

[Guest]

OK, a question, replacing the bulkhead "they tend to be screwed into position"

Do you mean that if I decide to replace the bulkhead I have to screw/bolt it to hold it in position since using only epoxi/fibres etc will not hold it in place..?

 

[Guest]

I agree that mast compression was a problem on my Hurley 22 which was built in about 1970.
The ply bulkhead is insufficient in the long term to cope with the compressive forces. As it weakens a little, the rigging slackens, you tighten the rigging, it weakens more....................
I ended up selling the boat [part ex] with a modified Acrow prop underneath the mast plate and bearing on the keel !!.

As the accomadation requires forward access I can only agree that he mast needs to be taken off and the bulkhead rebuilt or strengthened in its original position.

Best of luck

 

[Guest]

The bulkhead is held in position by a combination of being Glassed in plus on ours it has something like a piece of 1/2"x1" hard batten either side where there isn't any other thing such has cupboard wall etc holding it in position.

What we intend doing is to measure the deflection using a straight edge then to continually monitor it. If it gets worse, we may either replace or stiffen the plywood bulkhead.

However our coachroof is still in contact with the bulkhead unlike yours. The fact that yours is not in contact with the bulkhead means that the coach roof is flexing which cannot be good in the longterm.

I would shim the gap with timber so as to minimise/eleminate the deflection of the coach roof. then monitor the extent of the deflection of the bulk head to see if it gets any worse. If it does then you need to consider how 1)you stiffen the bulkhead 2) replace the bulkhead 3) provide additional support (stanchion etc)

I can't see why if the shims work and the bulkhead doesn't deflect any further you can't glass i n the shims.

 

[oldsaltoz]

G'day Tea.
The advice above looks good, but you can save some time by filling the gap with epoxy resin mixed with a fibre filler, then monitor the results.

Avagoodweekend Old Salt Oz......