[C320-list] Companionway step

[Chris Burti]

I am an experienced woodworker and have made a lot of teak joinery
over the years including hatches, screens, companionway doors, all
sorts of storage racks, tables, etc.

I formerly used epoxy adhesives, particularly for exterior teak
joinery. If you use epoxy on teak, wipe down the meeting faces
thoroughly with acetone as the natural oils that make teak such a
useful wood for exterior applications will impair the ability of epoxy
to adhere.  In the last ten years I have shifted to polyurethane
adhesives (Gorilla glue, etc.) for wood as as I have found it easier
to use, more reliable, more weather resistant and, I believe, equally
strong.

To repair the step, remove it, dampen the meeting faces slightly with
water, apply the adhesive and clamp together tightly...it will not
split in the same place again. You can refinish if needed, but the
excess adhesive will scrape off with a pocket knife and if you are
careful to not damage the finish, refinishing will not be required if
it is otherwise in good shape.

To address the splitting problem, I would wager that the two stainless
brackets on the ladder frame are not aligned properly. If they are not
parallel and in the same plane, the wood step will twist every time it
is loaded and will eventually split. Absent this torquing issue, the
wood is adequately thick to support the weight of a very heavy person
and the brackets are not really required for support. If you lay a
flat stiff metal rule across the brackets and it wobbles or if you can
see clearance between the rule and any of the exposed edges of the
brackets, you will need to bend the plates into plane.

You can do this with two large adjustable wrenches. Adjust one to fit
the plate and the other to fit the head of the wrench on the plate.
You can now bend the plate in two different axis and align them
properly.

If this procedure solves your problem and works for you, please take a
few digital pictures, make a few notes of how you did the project and
we will write it up for a Mainsheet article.


On Thu, Sep 30, 2010 at 1:07 AM, Utility Email <kswanson123 at comcast.net> wrote:
> Same thing happened to me. Middle step split port to starboard. Haven't fixed it yet.  Nice to know that spares might be available if I can't find a cost-effective way to permanently repair it.
>
> Dave
>
> Dave Swanson
> S/V Emily Ann
> 2007 C320 MK II, No. 1107
> Mukilteo, WA
>
>
> On Sep 29, 2010, at 3:38 PM, Warren Updike <wupdike at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Had the same problem: top step split port to Stbd.  At the time, Catalina in
>> CA had spares for $100. I opted to repair by placing an aluminum plate
>> between the step and the frame. It's been good for 5 years. Since 320 now
>> made in Fl, call there first.
>>
>> Warren & Pattie Updike
>> 1994 C320 #62 "Warr de Mar"
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Crosby Roper [mailto:vmdatsea at hotmail.com]
>> Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 2010 8:38 PM
>> To: c320-list at catalina320.org
>> Subject: [C320-list] Companionway step
>>
>>
>> We were out for a nice bay sail with friends last w/e. As i went to sheet in
>> the mainsail, I stepped on the top companionway step which broke as I came
>> down on it. I'd like to replace it, sooner rather than later. My wife, whom
>> I love dearly and has a great sense of humor, has taken to doing the
>> elephant trumpeting sound whenever I come down the companionway ladder... So
>> where do I get the wooden companionway step? Thanks in advance.
>>
>> Crosby Roper, VMD
>> Tethy
>> Hull # 1054
>> San Diego, CA
>>
>>
>



-- 
Chris Burti Farmville, NC