Re: [Cal_Boats] Re: Steel or Aluminum Dreaded Beam Decision

I'm just getting ready to do the dreaded beam on my Cal 34. Has anyone here done a 34 and if so do you have any suggestions or ideas that will help. I'm an aircraft mechanic and have done allot of composite work so the fiber glass part should be no problem. More interested in the best way to get the beam out and thoughts on removing the bulk head or leaving it in. Thanks, Tim From: Bruce Stirling <br… [at] stirlinglaw.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, July 9, 2008 7:34:32 AM Subject: RE: [Cal_Boats] Re: Steel or Aluminum Dreaded Beam Decision Thanks for the link to the great photos. Someone about a year or so ago wrote the original Cal 28 did not have a steel beam, so there was no need to concern ourselves with this right of passage. Instead, they wrote the Cal 28 has a wooden beam of some kind. I note than in Robert Fuller's Cal 28 page there is no mention of the dreaded beam during his restoration. So, what do we need to worry about? Anyone know if the wooden beam is exposed to water, or is it incapsulated and sealed in fiberglass? Anyone ever repair one? I get nervous hearing about all of these beam repairs and can only wonder what the condition might be on a Cal 28. Anyone have any insight on how one might get those great looking teak and holly decks put into a Cal 28? Pros and cons? If others have their photos online like Alan's, Mike Kennedy's, Robert Fuller's, etc., please send us your links. I would like to link to them on my site. Thanks. Bruce Stirling Gangfurd Cal 28 - Hull 82 http://www.stirling law.com/cal28 From: Cal_Boats@yahoogrou ps.com [mailto:Cal_ Boats@yahoogroup s.com]On Behalf Of Alan Storey Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2008 12:42 AM To: Cal_Boats@yahoogrou ps.com Subject: [Cal_Boats] Re: Steel or Aluminum Dreaded Beam Decision Hi James, I have made quite a few of these beams out of 316L (not just stainless, but the right kind of stainless), and I happen to have one right now, sitting in my studio in Vancouver getting dusty.... the last time I made a bunch, I made a spare, knowing that someone would need one again sooner or later. It is pickled and passivated and the only thing that needs doing is tigging on the middle tab, as I found that its position varied significantly from boat to boat. The design of it is from good old Rog, with a modified flat spot on the curve of the bottom flange, to allow water to flow under it and into the bilge rather than be trapped. The price is 650.00 plus shipping of about 35. Fedex ground down there to Seattle I think. Or if you can wait a week, I might be coming down next week to Bellevue.... There are a couple of pictures of a 29 beam I made in the last few pics of this album..... sorry, I don't seem to be able to download a single pic..... http://picasaweb. google.com /fortyfunctions/ ChimeraAModifie dCal330 Alan Storey Cal 3-30X 'Chimera' Vancouver BC fortyfunctions @ gmail.com (remove the spaces) PS.... I also have a spare 3-30 beam if anyone needs one? --- In Cal_Boats@yahoogrou ps.com, "James Bibb" <jamesbibb84@ ...> wrote: > > OK, I'm too close to the decision to know if I'm wrong. Just delivered my Steel beam from my > 2-29 to the welder....he' s done a a fair bit of marine welding and could have it back to me > my the end of the week. > > As from earlier conversations, I have been leaning towards replacing the steel with aluminum > after the decision to use SS like everybody else fell too far out of practical means from locally, > it would a two to three week turn around shipping out of town to Seattle...nobody local works > with Stainless at that level. > > I was leaning Aluminum, not wanting to place steel back into the bilge area...however the > welder's advice was not to reinvent the design and stick with steel with a galvanized > finished...mentione d that it would last longer than the aluminum over time. it's worked for > 35 years..... > > I have a day or so to second guess this decision.... anybody want to chime in? > > Bulkheads are out....mast is being re-wired.... standing rigging is in Port Townsend being re- > done. I'm roundin' the corner boys! >

Sounds possibly quite scandalous! From: "Husar, Charlie [USA]" <hu… [at] bah.com> To: Ca… [at] yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2008 6:46:23 PM Subject: RE: [Cal_Boats] Re: Steel or Aluminum Dreaded Beam Decision Depends on who the people are. We've slept 6 in (or on) a CAL 25. Cheers Charlie

Bob, Do you have information on the lay up of the beam? I have access to carbon fiber and fiberglass and believe it would be a good way for me to go. Did you build an I beam or did you just laminate the two sides of the plywood? How did you attach the beam to the bulkhead? Was it tabbed fast or is it bolted? thanks, Tim On Jul 9, 2008, at 9:11 AM, "loosemoosefilmworks" <lo… [at] yahoo.com> wrote: I replaced the steel beam in my CAL 34 with a wood composite (Carbon/Plywood/Glass/epoxy) going on six years ago and it has worked out very well. The resulting beam is if anything actually a bit stiffer than a steel beam... Certainly easier to build than a steel or alloy beam and cheaper ( unless you have a welder and steel oriented tools) I did mine in a couple of days part time so not a lot of real labor involved. Any wood in the structure should be encapsulated with epoxy..Especially below the water line. Bob So It Goes ( 1969 CAL 34) http://boatbits.blogspot.com/