Replacing the mast support beams on our Westsail 32 

Really nice repair!

Great video! On our 1975 W32 the deck was not compressed when we bought her in 2012. Per Bud's instruction we through bolted the beams. The deck is still holding shape as I write this. These boats are amazing and we love ours. We just completed a big refit in Mazatlán Mexico. Take care and thanks for sharing your adventures. I look forward to seeing more!

Best of luck to you both. Met you with my kids on their maiden trip to two harbors with their 1969 Islander Excalibur 26. Guided us into a perfect mooring for their little boat 😊. Keep the videos coming!

Kern's Sails. The premiere Westsail sailmaker. This design flaw in Westsail 32s and Westsail 43s is a major boo-boo. While you did an admiral job fixing your boat, replicating the old way is not the greatest idea. There is a better fix. Wood is compressible. Therefore replacing all of the wood in the compression post system with metal pipe is a far better fix for this type of situation. It would require mast removal / re-install. Essentially you need to have built a metal post with a metal plate on the top. This plate becomes the new mast step on the cabin top. A new base plate is added and attached on top of the ballast with a "key" to fit inside or outside the pipe. Four ~ six holes in the deck plate allow the deck to be through bolted to the plate. Careful measurements are required here. The pipe should be 2~3 mm longer than needed. That way when the deck is bolted to the plate, it is lifted a slight amount to the underside of the plate. This gives an all metal compression post from the base of the mast to the top of the ballast. Ain't never gonna sag or squeeze down again. A short piece of pipe welded to the top of the plate inside the area where the mast steps on deck gives a handy way to route mast wiring. Be sure to relieve the base of the mast in a few places to allow drainage of the mast. And yes I have done this myself. I built the last three "factory" made Westsail 43s and used this system.

Asking in a 'positive way' , any regrets on the Westsail vs. your prior boat?