Deck construction

conch · **Joined:** 21 Jan 2010 12:57 **Posts:** 168

Help! I'm installing some railings/pulpits on the top of the coach roof and the very aft outboard sides of the coach/cabin. This is the area just aft of the aftmost port where There is a flare that transitions the coachroof sides to the cockpit coaming. I want to bolt a flange to this almost vertical area and need access to the inside. There must be a void here between the coach/coaming sides and the inside of the cabin sides. It is not accessable from the bottom, as the deck extends under where the void is. It wouldmactually make a good secret stash. Anybody opened this up? Maybe a slot at the inboard edge of the deck just before the coach sides? Also, how does one gain access to the underside of the coach roof all the way forward? The headliner is captured by the framing of the head bulkheads. Bummer!

Tortuga's Lie · **Joined:** 27 Oct 2006 10:32 **Posts:** 827

You're correct, the coaming creates a sealed off void which would be difficult to access without some surgery. You could cut through from above and finish off with a varnished teak cap. This would of course need to match the curvature of the top of the coaming, but I don't think it would look out of place if executed correctly. I accessed the sea hood in much the same fashion:

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Word of caution: It is my opinion that this coaming also acts as a beam of sorts which reinforces the deck enabling it to span the width of the boat and the resist the impact of breaking waves, as well as the obvious as a water deflector. If you cut into it, it's strength may be compromised but this could be counteracted by adding a compression post/grab post at the galley: (from Kimberlite)

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conch · **Joined:** 21 Jan 2010 12:57 **Posts:** 168

Thanks for the response. I decided to drill all the way through to the inside, hole saw from inside so as to place a washer and nut on the bolt. I'm only capturing the exterior laminate. I need to find some 1 1/4" mahogany buttons to fill the holes that I made. I like the compression post: another secure grab "thing" and an effective (I would think) means of attenuating the flex that occurs from the traveller when it's loaded and there's some luffing/flogging going on.

KentB · **Posted:** 09 Nov 2015 22:12

We had a nice first summer with "Skybird". New roller furling, standing rigging, and new mainsail. Plus we found a good working wheel pilot.
We knew our decks need recoring, but chose to enjoy the boat for a season first. I am glad we did, because we noticed that in heavy air when the mainsail is luffing while the sheet is in tight the whole cabin top moves! It pumps up and down quite a bit.
So I am looking to see if anyone else has experienced this and what has been done about it. I doubt if just re-coring will fix this.
Been thinking about laminating a beam support inside... also adding a post by the corner of the icebox. Another idea was to use a longer, stronger traveler track that would transfer more load to the cabin sides rather than to the roof.
Unfortunately the location of the track makes reinforcing tough. There is a portlight directly in line where a beam or extra reinforcing would go, and a post might be too far forward to help much.

zdunc · **Joined:** 24 Sep 2013 09:20 **Posts:** 393

I've noticed the very same thing when the main luffs and wondered about it. Don't think we are in need of recoring so don't think it's that. I've thought maybe need to tighten the back stay slightly? But I'm a novice and really have no idea. I just usually try to stop the luffing as soon as possible. Anyone know what's up?

Velera · **Joined:** 29 Dec 2006 09:38 **Posts:** 656

I think something is very wrong if your deck under the traveler is "going up and down". My traveler was made wider by about 4" by a previous owner, but I have had the boat for 24 years and sailed it more than 20k miles in some snotty weather with no visible movement anywhere in the deck. Having said that, the forward deck must flex a bit around the forward hatch as I have had to rebed it a couple times as it seems to work loose a bit over years of pounding. My deck flexes a tiny bit when you walk over the salon area, but does not move under load and I have looked up at it from below and cannot see any water intrusion.

Ray
T37 #373

KentB · **Posted:** 16 Nov 2015 08:09

I believe that a longer traveler beam that extends to almost the sides of the cabin would help this issue.
First we have to take the headliner out and remove the traveler and see what is going on. But my recollection is that the traveler appears to be pulling up on the area above the sliding hatch. This indicates to me that there is a tremendous flex between the cabin sides and the traveler mounts. Being a 1976 hull, maybe there were later mods to stiffen this up? Or is ours just that much more worn that it exhibits more flex?
Hopefully somebody can shed some more light on this for us. Otherwise stay tuned and I will share what I find.

Down2TheC · **Posted:** 03 Dec 2015 09:50

Ours has seen this for 30 years. Looks awful while it's happening but I always figured it's part of the design. Never did anything about but minimize the violent luffing as practical or easing the sheet more to prevent it. Don't think anything has suffered from the flex, either with the original track or the extended track we installed. So I'm not sure you have to do anything about it, but if it wigs you out, I imagine that grab rail in the galley Tortuga posted probably firms things up quite a bit.

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