Hi Bud !

I noticed some hairline cracks in the fiberglass at the base of the mast step on the cabin top.  Looking down onto the Aluminum mast base, the tabernacle pin appears not to be centered over the bulkhead (i.e., over the (4) visible bulkhead fasteners on the cabin top).  Instead the tabernacle pin is about 6" aft of the bulkhead fasteners.  Looking at the bottom of the mast step from inside the cabin, shows all (8) thru-bolts and the wire penetration on the main salon side of the bulkhead.  I suspect that the aluminum mast support is too far aft which is causing the stress cracks visible on the cabin top, and should be moved forward so that the thru bolts straddle the bulkhead.  ...Was just wondering what other W32 owners had .... Is this typical for factory install and not to worry ?   Or maybe this was a later upgrade ? .... If I have to move the mast base I will be getting into standing rigging and possibly wiring changes ... Could there be another reason that it would be intentionally moved aft that I am missing ?  Photos at:

https://picasaweb.google.com/105250339194183007977/MastPosition?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJvVn5XqodukDg&feat=directlink

Thanks in advance !,  Cheers !  Jon  - WSSF02880275

Does anybody have a drawing showing the position of the chainplates relative to the W32 hull, i.e.  so many inches from bow or stern ?

Jon:  

I can't be sure that you are seeing "stress cracks" verses gel coat cracks.  Pygmalion has cracks like this in several places near the mast and also NOT near the mast.  Some are small - others large/long etc. I other words I'm not sure that you are seeing more then gel coat cracks - usually considered unsightly but no uncommon with boats of this age. 

IMHO you need to check that the support under the deck and below the mast downward to a block that sits on the hull is secure and NOT being compressed.  Sometimes the block under the cabin sole becomes soft and is compressed by the load above.  ( and sometimes the block is not even there.) 

One way to check for sagging beam is to sight along the bottom of all the cabin beams - they are supposed to be the same arc and should align along the bottom.   

Also the beam under the tabernacle is NOT a solid piece (usually) - it is made of multiple pieces that enclose the bulkhead - not a great design load wise. 

Below is an image of the beam and support.. the black metal c section is my latest attempt to correct the poor design of this area by spreading the load. 

The album with more images on picasa.