Somewhere in the Solent to fixing the mast compression on a Westerley

[samsuka]

I am hoping to buy a 34ft Westerly Falcon, however it has mast compression which has been quoted at £4,790 + VAT, so almost £6k to fix. This includes taking out the mast, but the majority of the cost (£3,500) is for repairs to the deck (which in the previously completed survey actually said it was in fair condition but "during close visual inspection of the superstructure, it was noted that the coach roof surrounding the mast base has been pushed downwards and was consequently misshapen)". In practice you can't really see it unless you look for it. Even the surveyor only saw it when looking closely.

So i wanted to see if anyone has any good recommendations of other boat yards in the Solent that might fix this for a more reasonable price. Its holding up the purchase at the moment.

Thanks for your help (this was related to another post about choosing between the above boat and one with osmosis, but i wanted a more direct post now i know more about it so that i can find boatyard recommendations.


Thanks

Sam

 

[Stemar]

I wouldn't call them cheap, but Gosport Boat Yard has a good reputation.

 

[V1701]

So may I ask whether you have already made an offer, had your own survey and renogotiated and agreed the final sale price based on the results of that? Seeking advice on whether this is a known issue and how to fix from the likes of the Westerly Owner's Assoc might be useful...

 

[Concerto]

A long time ago I had a major repair done at Hamble Point after the Oct 1987 hurricane damaged my boat. It did involve having a new section of deck inserted and a repair a massive hull crack. The end result was excellent to the point that when I sold her, the surveyor never noticed any of the repair.

Try and find several guys who work on boats on a freelance basis and they will certainly advise exactly where it would be best to try. I find out many bits of advice chatting with them. In my local area of the Medway I know exactly where or who to go for repairs that are outside my extensive knowledge.

 

[ashtead]

I haven’t used any but you might find prices more reasonable on the Isle of Wight- Richardson’s at island harbour for example . We are a Haslar boat and have always been happy with GBY fir our more routine work . I believe Destry are considered pricy but others might have first hand experience.

 

[chrishscorp]

Sam join the Westerly Owners Association £15 its a no brainer lots of help and info available.

 

[dankilb]

As an owner of a boat with a mast compression issue, I’d walk away from anywhere that says guff like:

"during close visual inspection of the superstructure, it was noted that the coach roof surrounding the mast base has been pushed downwards and was consequently misshapen)"

It’s a bit like taking your car to the body shop after a smash any being told - on close visual inspection, the body work was pushed inwards and misshapen (sharp intake of breath).

This is mast compression! When the post goes down, the deck goes with it. Prop the lot back up, repair the cause/issue (whether in the compression post step or the deck-step/core - the latter not being notably, and definitely not £3k, harder), and it will recover.

One thing I (almost) guarantee they won’t do (unless it’s not like any damage I’ve seen before) is rebuild the coach roof. If they’re sensible, they’ll leave the deck alone and prop/repair from the inside.

When I first questioned this price on the previous thread I conceded there is a ‘Solent premium’ involved. But this seems excessive!

 

[Rappey]

It's possible the ply inside the mast plinth has rotted and crushed, meaning cutting the deck out around the plinth, dig out ply, epoxy in new then reglue deck piece back down and make good.

 

[neilf39]

It is probably that the ply core in the deck has got wet and gone soft. Usually from sealant failure around through deck fittings like those carrying the mast wiring, especially if fitted by previous owners. Alternately the base of the compression post has been sitting in bilge water for a long time and gone soft at the base. If the former then cutting off the top skin and replacing the core is an option. Olivers shipwrights at Emsworth could do it.

 

[dankilb]

All the above is indeed eminently possible - but £3k for that??! Cut the top off, fix the core, glass back and make good - surely?

 

[Tranona]

I am very suspicious of the surveyor's diagnosis. What he has observed is seemingly a depression around the mast foot, so slight that it was not at first obvious. As already suggested it might be compression of the coachroof moulding or the pad that is likely inside the moulding or it could be at the bottom of the compression post over the keel. I would be surprised if the pad in the coachroof has rotted - there is not an obvious path for water to get in.

The only real way to find out is to unstep the mast and see what happens. The mast will have to come down to replace the rigging as I guess an insurer will insist on that. If it is the pads, either in the coachroof or over the keel I can't see that as £3500 of work.

 

[pvb]

I would be surprised if the pad in the coachroof has rotted - there is not an obvious path for water to get in.

The plywood under the mast foot of my Hallberg-Rassy rotted when the boat was about 15 years old, leading to a distinct depression in the coachroof, together with gelcoat cracks. The boatyard which repaired it suggested water ingress via the mast foot fittings.

 

[Supertramp]

What level of recommend

I am hoping to buy a 34ft Westerly Falcon, however it has mast compression which has been quoted at £4,790 + VAT, so almost £6k to fix. This includes taking out the mast, but the majority of the cost (£3,500) is for repairs to the deck (which in the previously completed survey actually said it was in fair condition but "during close visual inspection of the superstructure, it was noted that the coach roof surrounding the mast base has been pushed downwards and was consequently misshapen)". In practice you can't really see it unless you look for it. Even the surveyor only saw it when looking closely.

So i wanted to see if anyone has any good recommendations of other boat yards in the Solent that might fix this for a more reasonable price. Its holding up the purchase at the moment.

Thanks for your help (this was related to another post about choosing between the above boat and one with osmosis, but i wanted a more direct post now i know more about it so that i can find boatyard recommendations.


Thanks

Sam
[/QUOTE

What level of recommendation did the surveyor give to it (safety, urgent, advisory or observation)?

Agree with previous posts that water ingress to deck core or mast support structures needs sorted. I recall some very extensive work on a Conway due to water ingress, and also structural repairs on hard sailed examples.

Most boats (and definitely Westerlys) flex under mast and rigging loads and may show some minor distortion around the mast plinth. If no other signs of damage or worsening (measure and record the depression year on year) and if its not deemed important by a surveyor, I would monitor and carry on, perhaps waiting for an opportunity like rigging replacement. And perhaps reseat or replace my mast base fittings.

 

[Rappey]

. I would be surprised if the pad in the coachroof has rotted

It's actually quite common. The electrical connectors around the mast base leak, the foam or balsa core suck up the damp and the ply under the mast in the sandwich rots.

I did my friends a few months back. It's quite easy to do and with carefull cutting around the plinth and a little 2 pack once fared back in makes it virtually invisible.