small problem?

[Kings cruiser]

http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/taotesign/vwp?.dir=/Mail+Attachments&.src=ph&.dnm=kings.jpg&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/bc/taotesign/lst%3f%26.dir=/Mail%2bAttachments%2 6.src=ph%26.view=t
anyhow, "IO's" still sailing like a champ.. we went out through the Golden Gate on a real blow the other day...(someone actually died that day off angel island) and very little water came in.. the seams..(i spent 4 months ((at least)) rebuilding them with 500 ft of mahogany strips; laminating them in and then routing out the seam with a skilsaw, beveling it with a sawzall blade, and then sanding a little.. then painted, caulked, and then wedged with amapola wedges to hold the caulking in (where i thought it needed it most) and then i payed the seams with tar and interlux seam compound.. yum yum.. -i did this since the red-lead paint is not really sikaflex friendly when stretched out with linseed oil...
anyhow, i'm having a small problem... the cabin around the mast seems to have lifted up (results of very strong chainplates and hard sailing i imagine)... so that there is a 3/8" gap in someplaces where the knees and the deckbeams connected.. also, my Kings cruiser has these huge knees. they are two arches. the forward one was not stiffened up, and has cracked in the middle. anyhow, everything's shifted.. i'm thinking of filling in the gaps with cedar shims and calling it a day.. loosen the rigging a little (i have a very high-tech aluminum racing mast) and leaving the compression posts (i foresaw some this to some extent and made a very nice span over the deadwood to accept the compression) and seeing how it goes. wooden boats. happy summer, Richard

[WFK]

I'm sorry, but I'm just not really sure where to begin, except that I think you have a little more than a small problem

[PugetSound]

I agree with WFK. It doesn't sound as though you've a small problem at all . . . frankly it sounds like you have the boat badly over rigged!!!
I'm no expert on the matter but it sounds like you have bent your boat with the rigging. I think it is time for an expert evaluation (surveyor and master rigger).

[TomRobb]

The chain plates are attached to the cabin, not the hull???
The rig "wants" to bend the hull like a long bow and drive the mast thru the bottom.
If it's pulling the boat apart, you have serious problems :eek:

[ 07-13-2002, 03:43 PM: Message edited by: TomRobb ]

[Pelican]

My recommendation would be to not get in any water deeper than your chest. :eek:

[Charlie J]

Just how much backstay tension are you carrying??? Cause it sounds to me like you are bowing the whole hull away from the cabin. And patching it with some cedar shims ain't gonna do it, cause it'll just bow somemore.

[Kings cruiser]

ok, maybe it's a big problem... certainly, i would agree the boat was over-rigged.. uhmm, to get all the details here would be impossible. anyhow, the best advice i've gotten thus far is to keep the compression post in place, try and tie the hull together with some cable attached to the (large) chainplates -to keep it from falling away ;horizontally, from itself.. and, to rebuild the large knees that have shown signs of stress.
The backstay tension is mild.. the forestay has had a lot of tension on it.. my jib was way too big on a few occasions. anyhow, i think it's a combination of the stresses and the dry weather that's caused the 'separations'. you can't see **** from the outside. looks great. And two further notes are that the chainplates go well below where the problem is.. thus they can't be the main cause of the "" but admittably, the integrity of the boat around the shelf and knees is weak - i didn't rebuild that part of the boat, i focused almost entirely on areas below the water-line/ anyhow, until next hullout i think i'll be careful not to set sail too much sail, and use my stethescope while underway... her heart's good, but bones are a little old. thanks for your encouragements.

[Pelican]

And don't forget the PFD's ;)

[Paul Scheuer]

The King's Cruiser does have a unique arrangement, with the cabin top mast step and interior arches, (to provide a more open cabin space). I can't envision lifting of the step under any stress condition. Could it be that the gaps are the after effects of stress induced "pile driving" compression that lowered the arches, which then didn't recover when the stress was relieved ? Do the gaps close under stress ? It seems that shims would only relocate the problem. A compression post may be the answer. Some of the small boat people have removable posts that allow for access to the accomodations when not underway.

[Kings cruiser]

Paul...well, yes. that's the idea. that's what i've done.
however, my latest view tells me that the boat is falling apart. meaning the beam has grown a little. not very easy to fix. so, i'm going to go sit on a rock, and let you guys know what i come up with. also, i will post photos soon of this awesome boat (before anything happens) thanks.