Cal 29 beam rot

[dieselboy]

Nope , mine is mild steel and not as rotten as his but, does have some rust. Not bad though.
Good thing i own a bore scope..lol
makes life a bit easier..

[FXDawg]

Hi, I just found this post after finding a great price on a 1975 Cal 29. After reading I'm a bit apprehensive about it. At least I know what to look for when I go see it. I can remember what buying things was like before the internet, a crap shoot. I am interested about TOMMAYS' "simple version."

Will you be photo documenting the repair? I know it is not as easy as it looks to take the photos as I never take photos of my repairs and I always intend to. Seems like this is also a lengthy repair and I imagine VERY expensive if you don't do it yourself. Any other comments and suggestion before I go look to help make my decision would be great! I'm wondering if the price is so low because of this problem...

Danny

[QUOTE=tommays;527526

Scary write up with scary photos as he does great work but gets a bit out of control

I have planed out a simple version that leaves the main bulkhead in PLACE

I will cut off the bolt tabs which are in front of the bulkhead and have the new beam fabed with them so it can slide in from the head area[/QUOTE]

[tommays]

I bought the boat from and older friend that could no care for it anymore for a price that reflected the beam needing replacement

My feeling is the beam can be changed by only doing demo in the head section THIS Cal 29 only had a porta-potty and NO sink so theirs not a lot of nice stuff that needs to removed


But its still a really big job and i think i will spend a YEAR working on the boat ,i enjoy this stuff and race on other peoples boats so i will still have plenty of sailing time.


back to the beam

1. you have to cut and remove the fiberglass liner in the head area

The big issue is the tabs are on the wrong side of the bulkhead to allow the beam to come out SO i am cutting the tabs and will have the new beam fabricated with them moved about 1" forward on the head side so the beam can slide back in without doing demo on the main bulkhead


When the reality of how this works out happens i will get back to you

[devemaster]

I'm considering buying a Cal 29. Has there ever been a discussion about possible noninvasive or less invasive solutions to the beam rot issue?

[tommays]

I have talked to a few more victims of the beam AFTER starting mine and have found its pretty much a given on Cals of many sizes

You have to invade as the beam takes thousands of pounds of pressure to support the mast and rust really does a bad job


The beam was one of the EASY projects in repiaring the boat

[devemaster]

Okay- there's one man's opinion. And well informed, judging by the amount of work you've put into your boat. But it doesn't really answer the question.

[tommays]

OK

how would you remove the steel ?

[devemaster]

I'm not sure the steel has to be removed. But again, my question was simply has there been a discussion about alternative methods. I don't mean to imply that I have a better way, I don't think I do right now but if we put our brains together we might come up with something.

[tommays]

REALLY Invasive



A whole lot less Invasive

I looked at every CAL rebuild on the net and as far as i know did the first beam change that left the main bulkhead in the boat ;


FWIW if the beam is rusted is the least of your cal problems

[devemaster]

You did a great job and your boat is beautiful. No one can accuse you of doing things halfway! And I can see that your method was less invasive than the other.


My question still remains though.