Crack in floor under compression post

[Mary Mac]

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I know the 34-III does not have the dreadedsteel beam, but this crack I just noticed does not look good. I just pulled up the flooring and found it. Has anyone dealt with this on the 34-III?

[rcvesselstyn]

Hi Mary. Since you haven't heard from any Cal 34 -3 owners I thought I'd throw my two cents worth in. I know you've done a lot of work on the main bulkhead. The compression post should be screwed to the main bulkhead so that the compression is dissipated over the entire length of the bulkhead. I know that previously your main bulkhead was compromised so perhaps that's where the crack originated. Either way I would recommend getting a industrial endoscope running it through your bilge access to the area underneath the compression post support. Alternately you could run it through the port or starboard side or even from underneath the v berth.

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The industrial endoscopes are cheap and they come in very handy for many projects. Once you see what you're dealing with then you can make the proper decision as to whether it needs reinforcement. Good luck! We were sorry to hear of your transmission problems, I guess we won't be seeing you down our way this month.

[Mary Mac]

Hi Randy, Thank you so much for the ideas. Yes, the bulkhead is screwed to the compression post. I did not see this crack before I replaced the compression post, but perhaps it had started already. I did make this compression post a bit thicker than the last, and because of that it could be adding pressure to a part without support underneath causing the pan to stress. I'm away from the boat for awhile, but will order one of these for when I return.

[GBR3068]

Mary Mac:

I bought this scope and can really recommend it. Saved me several times: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082F ... UTF8&psc=1

This is the one with front and side view.

I bought a cheaper one first and regretted it: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QJ ... UTF8&psc=1

I have a 2-34. with steel beam and haven't had any problems. so far (cross fingers).What does your support lookalike underneath the post? Your posts so far on the compression post work you did are the only. information I can find on this pretty important topic.

I can post some pictures of the. work on my steel beam if there's interest.I really use cleaned it up and. cleaned out the whole area around the beam.

[Mary Mac]

Thank you for sharing the links. I'll order one.

I know.. when I was replacing the compression post and part of the bulkhead, I could hardly find any relevant information. I asked around and did a lot of thinking and research before finally replacing it.

I'm not sure I understand your question about the support under the post. I haven't seen the actual support, but the outer floor liner under the post is in the photos in the beginning of this post.

I am sure that photos of your steel beam would be very helpful to many.

[GBR3068]

Mary Mac: Here's a couple pictures using that borescope / scope I mentioned above. I am now tackling my compression post area too. On my Cal 2-34 there is a wooden box next to the compression post that I suspected covered all the mast fittings. Before taking it out /off I wanted to look inside.
1. First a picture of the outside of the box taken with the scope. Its not great but this scope can take "wide field" pictures as well as close-ups to make keeping all the pictures together easier. You are looking at the cabin roof and the nuts are from the cabin roof cable organizer on top of the roof by the foot of the mast.
2. Second a picture taken inside the closed box by snaking the scope through the cable feed. I was able to see everything inside the box including this example close up picture of a cable connection before I took things apart. The scope has forward looking camera and side looks camera. That was a useful function that cost a bit more. I was able to see everything: all the connectors, junction box, terminals, wiring, cable splices, antenna feeds, sealant... before taking everything apart.

Just an example of how the scope can be useful...

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[Mary Mac]

Wow, it takes nice photos. I have all these projects on hold while work is busy.. can't wait to get back to it. Thanks for the info!

[Capn ken]

Hi guys, thanks for the great photos and I appreciate the link for the borescope. I have an older Cal-29 and treasure it highly. This borescope will be a nice addition to my tool kit. Fairwinds Ken B

[GBR3068]

I just finished some work on my 2-34. I posted some details in the "Trucking my sailboat" Mary Mac thread at viewtopic.php?t=381 and I promised I would post more about the work in that thread and I will but here is the start of my findings on compression post and what I have done so far...

Short story: I think the compression post on the Cal 34 is often misunderstood. At least the steel beam underneath on my Cal 2-34 may be. I will post some pictures of what that beam looks like in a following post, but it is a C-shaped section and the post bears on it. The weight is also supposed to be transferred to the bulkhead by tabs that are welded onto the beam. My beam under the post was in good shape and I had three different engineers look at it. None thought it was necessary to reinforce the beam, but I did it anyway. We used a slab of 2" thick G10. Here's what it looks like before and after the G10 work,

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[GBR3068]

This is roughly what the beam looks like. This was someone else's replacement project. What I want to show here is the C-shaped (or U-shaped) section of the beam. It is not an I-beam. I'll let others comment on the design. What the C-shape allowed me to do was fit a plank or slab, whatever you want to call it, of G10 across the beam on the inside. If the force of the compression post bearing down on this beam on a small area is acting to bend the top plate of the beam, the G10 is reinforcing and supporting that area. The bend I would be concerned about is not along the length of the beam, a sag if you like, but bending the C so it is more like a C than a U right below the wooden post. The area is only about 2" x 1-1/2" where the wooden post contacts the steel beam. Now I say "if" because the tabs that you see welded on to this beam in the picture are similar to the tabs I have. These tabs are through-bolted to the bulkheads on either side of the cabin door next to the compression post. The bulkheads are tabbed to the steel beam. This is a sort of "monocoque" design that became "trendy" in the 70's and the force on the wooden post is also transferred to the bulkheads via these steel tabs. However as things shift, certainly some force is transferred directly to the beam, some to the tabs/bulkheads, and I don't know what fraction goes where. My tabs were in good shape so I didn't mess with them. My beam under the post was in good shape but it just seemed prudent to reinforce it while I had everything apart and the mast down with the forces switched off.

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