Compression Post Blues

[JohnV]

I looked at 3 or 4 SC 31's in the past couple of years before I settled on my Alajuela 33. I recall seeing a couple of boats that had problems in the mast step. I had none of them surveyed.
One showed signs of leaking around the cabin ceiling below the step, another showed signs of an odd-looking repair. Fortuitously, the latter boat's owner had posted something online long before, to the effect that her mast was 'punching through her cabin top' or some such thing.
I looked at the bottom of the compression posts on all the boats and they appeared dry and sound. The post is integral with the head doorframe and reachable via a small hatch in the head or v-berth sole, if I remember right. I was left wondering if there was a common structural vulnerability in the cabin top.
Some suggestions--
There's an SC owners' group in USSail or Yahoo or one of those.
You probably know about the SC owners' website.
Clarke Ryder, the builder, also has a website and may be willing to offer some thoughts if you email him.
I thought the SC 31 was a great boat overall and would have been happy with one had the right one come along. Good luck in your search.
John V.