Front Post Down And Making Noise

I bought a very early H16 that had the same problem. I took the crossbar to a local machine shop and for $20 the guy drilled and tapped the hole in the mast step out to 3/4

and made me a new stainless steel dolphin striker out of 3/4

smooth rod that he threaded on one end and drilled on the other to match the old 9/16" dolphin striker. I think I got a god deal! The other alternative is to get a new mast step, but I bet that's more than twenty bucks!

The forward pylon post right?

Install an inspection port in the deck. Aft of the post is best, but plenty have been done just ahead of the forward crossbar.

Tie the hull to the trailer or a 4x4 cross beam. Place a jack on the trailer / 4x4 and jack the crossbar / tramp frame up to the original height off the hull.

If the

Shoe

is intact in the hull, you may be able to just pour resin with some filler into the shoe cup to re-bond the post into the cup.

Chances are that the shoe is damaged. You may then have to repair with glass and resin. Bond the shoe into the keel and the post into the shoe.

I am sure these are threads elsewhere on this repair.

Here is what a cracked shoe looks like.

I used West System Epoxy and cloth to do the repair.
Put some rolled up cardboard under the shoe to keep the drain open.
It is a little difficult working with one hand inside the hull.
Use some rubber gloves and push the epoxy into the craks and all around the pylon.
Wrap with some cloth and wet it out by hand again.
I have done this on a couple of old boats and it works well.
Do both hulls while you're at it.