Previous owner had a leak at the mast step. He un-stepped the mast and removed rot and filled with expoy. Wood trim on cross member is where he opened it up. He never checked the post. I have had the boat 3 years now and knew there was a problem with the post. Cracks started to open up at the crossmember

Start

Two 4x4 where cut to fit on top of jacks to raise the cross member up to remove the compression post. The mast was still up, I loosen the rigging to take the pressure off the post. The boat was in the water.

Step 2

It did not take much upward movement on the jacks to have the post drop out

Step 3

Post down view of mast wires.

Step 4

Better view of the bottom of the post.

Step 5

Bottom of post completely rotted out, one foot of material gone. Only the trim held the mast up.

Step 6

This is a shot of the top of the post. Some rot, water ran down one side making that side kind of punky.

Step 7

You can see the new post I made from pressure treated 4x4 (Red Rag on it) cut down to 3x3 with a one inch by one inch dado cut down the center for the mast wires. I also put a coat of expoy on the new post

Step 8

New post in with wires push into the one inch dado. The jacks where lowered and 4x4 removed.

Step 9

The hardest part of the job was trying to get the trim off the old post. It was glue on good. Had to take post home and run it threw the tablesaw. I retighten the rigging on the mast.

Step 10

Next day replaced trim on post, no more worries now while sailing!

Finish