Matt: I can't imagine the Rhodes 22 without a compression post. When I gutted and rebuilt my boat,  I removed the compression post while I rebuilt the base under the post which was compressing - something that appears to be fairly common in older Rhodes. Even though I didn't actually use the boat while the post was removed, I was surprised to see how much the deck seemed to settle, making it quite difficult to get the post back in place once the base was rebuilt.
My theory is, but could easily be very wrong, is that as the deck drops the sides of the boat get pushed out marginally. Once the boat spreads, there is a lot of resistance to bringing it back into proper shape.

If you decide to install a new compression post, you might want to use a jack of some while to raise the deck very gradually. I would be inclined to do this over a period of weeks - preferable during hot temperatures. You might be able to raise it faster but it would be wise to monitor the process carefully.

All that said, it is not a particularly difficult fix. Just make sure that the base under the post is solid.



Graham Stewart
Rhodes 22
Agile, 1976

________________________________
From: Rhodes22-list <rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org> on behalf of Matt Wilson <mwhornblower at gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 26, 2024 11:19 AM
To: The Rhodes 22 Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Mast step issues?

Here is one that shows the area.  Those two stainless screw heads are
directly under the mast.

Thanks for your help,
Matt

On Wed, Jun 26, 2024 at 10:01 AM ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com>
wrote:

> Matt,
>
> My boat has a sliding curtain, not a door.  The compression post would
> need to run from the ceiling down to the sole of the bilge.
>
> Roger Pihlaja
> Dynamic Equilibrium
> 1978. Sanford, MI
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Jun 26, 2024, at 10:11 AM, Matt Wilson <mwhornblower at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > My boat is a 1990. Perhaps someone else can comment on that vintage.  I
> > believe it has a normal interior.
> > Roger, does your post get in the way of the bathroom door?  Would it be
> as
> > simple as adding one as long as it has a solid footing down to the hull?
> >
> > Matt
> >
> >> On Wed, Jun 26, 2024 at 9:01 AM ROGER PIHLAJA <roger_pihlaja at msn.com>
> wrote:
> >>
> >> Matt,
> >>
> >> My 1978 Rhodes has a stout compression post in the cabin under the mast.
> >> I can’t speak about this feature re newer boats.  Is your cabin interior
> >> custom?  Unless your cabin roof is very thick, it would take something
> like
> >> a steel I-beam spanning the cabin to withstand the compression load from
> >> the mast without a compression post.  If you have a stud finder, you
> should
> >> be able determine if there is a steel I-beam built into your cabin roof.
> >> If it’s not there; then, you have a problem.
> >>
> >> Roger Pihlaja
> >> S/V Dynamic Equilibrium
> >> 1978. Sanford, MI
> >>
> >>
> >> Sent from my iPhone
> >>
> >>>> On Jun 26, 2024, at 8:52 AM, Matt Wilson <mwhornblower at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >>>
> >>> Hello Rhodies,
> >>>
> >>> I hope you are all enjoying your summer and excursions.
> >>>
> >>> I received word of Stan’s passing at the tail end of a wonderful sunset
> >>> sail with my daughter and her fiancé.  How apropos!  Never met Stan but
> >>> enjoyed seeing his personality and helpfulness via the emails he sent
> >> over
> >>> the time I was on this list.
> >>>
> >>> I just spent the first night aboard and happened to notice that there
> is
> >> a
> >>> very slight bowing/sagging in the ceiling below the mast step. There
> is a
> >>> similar dip in the deck on top. There is no other evidence of damage
> just
> >>> very slight hairline cracks on the forward corners of the mast step.  I
> >> had
> >>> noticed previously and been surprised by the fact that there is nothing
> >>> directly under the mast like in most boats. Is this something I should
> be
> >>> concerned about? Is the deck failing? Were the shrouds tightened a bit
> >> too
> >>> much at some point. I could try to send a few pictures, but it’s pretty
> >>> hard to see. But let me know if that would be helpful. thank you for
> your
> >>> help and perspective.
> >>>
> >>> Matt Wilson
> >>> Hornblower II
> >>> White Bear Lake, MN
> >>
>