CAL 36 compression beam pictures

kapitany · #1 (**permalink**) 08-10-2010

Hi,

I have a CAL 36 sailboat, recently I discovered that the steel beam under the compression post and fiberglass is partially rusted. Only access is from the bilge and the port side locker.
I didn't know that the mast is actually "sitting" on a beam across the bilge? I discovered it when I traced a hose under there in the bilge and found rusted metal pieces.
It looks to me that it will be a major project to replace or repair it?
Anybody with experience on this? I'd appreciate any advice!
Thank you!

Hartley18 · #2 (**permalink**) 08-10-2010

Ooooeee!! That looks like fun!

...and I thought I had problems with MY boat!?!

You are going to have to get the mast out and disconnect all those cables/hoses to even START to fix that.

The PO must have been a right moron!

tommays · #3 (**permalink**) 08-10-2010

Its no so much the PO as the builder putting a steel beam in the blige

CAL SAILBOATS

It is the curse of most cals with the 29 having the most info but if you keep looking you will find a 36 beam drawing and some serious cutting will be involved

Hartley18 · #4 (**permalink**) 08-11-2010

Tommys, it was the hole cut in the beam without any protection that I was referring to.. Surely they're not all like that?

kapitany · #5 (**permalink**) 08-11-2010

Thank you, I think the hole did it too. So where would all the cables go up into the mast otherwise? Is this factory hole? The water must have come from somewhere? Anyway, the question is now, how big of an opening to cut in the fiberglass in order to remove the beam or even just to get in there to weld???

tommays · #6 (**permalink**) 08-11-2010

I did it on the 29 and plenty of people have done it on other size Cals

The beam is pretty simple on the 29 and pretty complex on the bigger boats

I changed the tab location one the 29 to the other side of the bulkhead to avoide having to destroy the boat

In the best case you going to taking apart a LOT of boat and i would look for Cal 40s as there is more info about the beam on them being changed

The 36 does look a lot like the 29

In the best case your going to have to demo the head area IF its in the same place as well as deal with all the other stuff you find