I sail a twenty year old series 1 wooden GP14, built by Duffin. This winter I decided to modify the mast step, with a view to strengthening the boat so that next season I can put the sails up and tension up the forestay, without opening up the seams where the forward buoyancy tank joins the hull. I purchased the plans from the class association, somehow got the boat into the spare room around the back and started to remove all the bits that get in the way. The bits 1 removed were the centre board (not strictly necessary, but it's one less thing to bash yourself on), floorboards, any fittings, blocks, clips etc. in the vicinity of frame 2 and the existing mast step. My front tank has three circular hatches, each 6" diameter; I removed these and their frames.

The next thing is to remove the existing mast step, which is not difficult, but I found rot under mine, which it turns out is not unusual, and not surprising when you see all the nooks and crannies both fore and aft of the buoyancy tank bulkhead, that water can lie in even when the bow is propped well up in the dinghy park.

The instructions provided by the class association are clear and comprehensive, though they do take a bit of reading and rereading (in my case anyway), so I won't bore you by repeating them. I did however find that having three 6" hatch holes in the buoyancy tank bulkhead enabled me to cut only a minimum size aperture to pass the new spine through, by putting the spine in through the hatch, and offering it back through the newly cut aperture to butt up to the bottom of the centre board case. I was then able to fill the small gap between the edge of the aperture and the spine with a fillet of epoxy and micro balloons, instead of cutting and fitting a new covering panel as suggested in the instructions.

You do need to keep measuring and re-measuring as you go along to make sure you stay within the limits given in the instructions. Especially if you get the measurer to check it all at the end, like you are supposed to. The bit I haven't done yet is what I hope is going to be the easy bit, shortening the mast by 100mm. and fitting a new heel plug.

All in all, it's not a difficult job if you can get the boat under cover and keep it warm enough to get the epoxy to go off It is, however, a bit tedious. Towards the end I seemed to be forever mixing up a small quantity of epoxy, gluing a bit on, waiting 24 hours, mixing up a small quantity of epoxy, gluing a bit on ....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

I now look forward to taking it down the club, getting the mast up, altering all the shrouds, spreaders, rig tensions and all that, and sailing the first series about five places further back than last season. If you decide to have a go and find anything you want to discuss, see me down the club or give me a ring.

Graham Wallen GP14 12170