[tommays]

From

Wilkie's Sailboat Page

thanks

I have not found one with out a beam issue and find myself close to buying one that needs the replacement

The one i am looking at has the same crack in the fiberglass liner from rust as Mariposa SO are your more luckey OR just not fixing it ?

 

[RachelFail]

They're out there

You can find one without the bean rot.. just think about shipping it and look in a greater area. It's cheaper to buy a boat and ship it than fix that problem.

 

[dieselboy]

I am about to bore scope mine to look at how bad it is.. I did not learn of this until the other night when i was on the same page..
I have yet to find a write up on the repair which also scares me.

 

[tommays]

Wilkie's Sailboat Page

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

 

[tommays]

When i was first looking at the boat i wanted to fully understand how the keel was done as i have run into other boats that had keel bolt issues

I found out that the icebox drain hose sits right on the beam ,the head area fiberglass liner has a hole for any water spilled in that area dumps right on the beam AND the mast wires run down and any leaks from them also puts water on it

Thanks to Mariposa

 

[dieselboy]

When i was first looking at the boat i wanted to fully understand how the keel was done as i have run into other boats that had keel bolt issues

I found out that the icebox drain hose sits right on the beam ,the head area fiberglass liner has a hole for any water spilled in that area dumps right on the beam AND the mast wires run down and any leaks from them also puts water on it

Thanks to Mariposa

Crap... we always have water draining out of the ice box and we have a shower in the head area.. mine is doomed...

 

[RachelFail]

Not if yours is made of stainless. Ours was.

 

[dieselboy]

how old is your cal? Was it redone?

 

[RachelFail]

My cal WAS a 1972.. currently I'm in the market for a Cal 34. I'm pretty sure it wasn't redone. From what I've read, some cals had stainless and others didn't. I don't think there is any science to which ones did and which ones didn't.

 

[tommays]

Well

The fact that there are drawings on the net for Cal STEEL beam replacements in MANY models cal 40 etc and how much stainless cost back than its pretty much a sure thing there steel

All you have to do is look under the port cushions and the CAL 29 steel tabs are in plain sight

CAL 30 beam

CAL 40 beam

 

[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

 

[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]

Beam rot-possible noninvasive solutions?

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.