Thanks, smart@ss

Posted By: Greg CM26 Seattle CLM005771173
Date: 1/12/08 2:06p.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: HIN (Russ)

Just kidding. That tells me that your doghouse (the later boats are a flush-deck version) is hull number 322, was constructed at the Santa Ana plant, and was rolled out in April, 1973. There's a good chance your mainsail carries number 322 as well, if you have the original, although that's not always the case. I had your boat in the database, but with no other info than the HIN. The other closest numbers I have are 313, also April, 1973, and 334, a California boat named "Moon" (you out there, Al?) that was constructed in May that year. Yes, it looks like your gooseneck has been "compromised." Since you mentioned that several shroud fittings are tweaked also, I'd say there is an excellent chance that the P.O. had a rapid and unplanned unstepping of the mast. It would be remarkable, although certainly not impossible, if there was not other damage to the mast somewhere. As far as your gooseneck is concerned, if it were my problem, I'd put the parts in a vice and persuade them into a more correct shape. Keep in mind that the gooseneck is designed to be very accommodating anyway, so getting things exactly right is not a requirement. Finally, you suggested that your boat looks just like mine. The hulls are the same, that's true, but first, mine started life as a flush deck, not a doghouse, and second, I made that cabin myself: there isn't another one just like it on the whole planet. Fair winds, Greg