R22 Discussion Group

Allyn:

I have attached a few photos that might be helpful. There is no documentation per se although the archives include , as I recall, some pictures and descriptions that might be useful. From what I have seen through previous correspondence is that no two boats were alike. For some the step below the post was wood, some have a cement pad while I have a combination of plywood over a stack of iron bars covered with a skin of fiberglass. I have attached two pictures of my boat stripped of floor boards showing the block of iron bars. There was plywood between that block and the floor. It appears that others hae no step at all with the post going right through the flor to the bilge. In any event, it should be pretty obvious once you get access. Let us know what you find.

In my case removing the post was easy. There was/is a plywood ring that went around the post and was screwed to the liner at the top. The post is held in place at the bottom with a single screw. Once removed and the step was replaced I had a devil of a time getting the post back in place perhaps because the cabin top had dropped slightly or because the floor was a bit higher. I had to trim about 1/8" off the post to reinstall it.

I found a picture of the bottom of the post before it was repaired. You can see the screw that held the post in place as well as the sag in the floor under the post. The sag isn't all that great but enough to require repair. 
A previous owner had replaced all of the floor boards with 3/4" plywood that was solid but did not replace the step - hence the sag.

I ended up replacing the entire subfloor structure in my boat as well as the stringers, framing, bulkheads etc. It was a complete gut. Hopefully that will not be necessary in your case. Whatever you put under the post be sure to epoxy and wood to ensure it does not rot in the future. The last photo was after the repair was completed along with the replacement of the subfloor structure. If the only problem is the compression post step, none of this would be necessary in your case.

Graham Stewart
gstewart8 at cogeco.ca

floor under compression post.jpg

bilge and interior 2009 (2).jpg

Cabin bilge.jpg

Bilge painted (1).jpg

Cabin bilge.jpg

The Rhodes 22 Discussion Group

Graham Stewart

Compression Post and Head Door Problems