Date: 1/30/2001
Name: vandy (John VanderSchalie)
email: jvs@clarkston.com
subject:Two other QC problems on a few boats . . . .
In our years selling and refirbishing '21's we ran across two other factory quality control (QC) problems. They were not on too many boats, but still boats can be found with these problems repaired, or even possibly still not repaired.Under the mast step, instead of putting the balsa-core that's between the deck glass layers, the design calls for a one foot square piece of 3/4" thick end grain hardwood. This takes the compression forces (downward) from the mast. In a number of boats, this was left out, and not only was the hardwood left out, but the balsa core in that space was left out too! So, under the mast, there was a hollow space, and the more the boat was sailed, the more it dimpled down and the looser the shrouds became. The fix is to go in, usually from underneath, and cut through the ceiling first layer and put in some hardwood.
Another QC problem came, also with the mast support system. I had a boat that had many cracks in the aft edge of the V-berth area, where the aluminum mast support (compression post) attaches to the bunk area. Under this area, between the bottom of the boat and the top of the bunks, there was supposed to be a piece of 2x4, about six or eight inches long, that supports the mast compression post between the bunks and the very bottom of the boat. In a series of boats, these were left out. After this, an inspection port was put into the aft end of the storage compartment under the V-berth, so the QC person could stick his/her hand through the port and feel if that piece of 2x4 was installed properly. It shows up as significant cracking at the aft end of the berths under where the winch is mounted on most boats.
Our boats were built lightly, which gives them such nice lively performance, but the structural designs need all parts to be installed!
Does any one else know of other places to watch for problems?
vandy
John VanderSchalie
Clarkston, (eastern) Washington (state)
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