Concordia took on the above mentioned project in March 2011, among other projects.  The innovative structural improvement was executed with minimal destructive methods, and was akin to threading a wet string through a series of holes, blindfolded.  Much credit to the Concordia team for their surgical precision.

This retrofit augmented Taliesin’s already upgraded mast step strut.  A refit done two years prior added a new Dynel deck and house, its method documented prior in Concordian Issue #2.  My assessment is that the Dynel deck/house restoration, while being the anti-leak and canvas deck-feel gold standard, also induced a different stress dynamic on the entire boat, making her more rigid.  The result was a stiffer boat, more responsive, with no leaks, and a visual aesthetic akin to the older canvas/paint method.  However, the Dynel deck essentially turned a live, breathing plank and canvas deck into a whole boat flat deck rigid body.  I feel that this induced more pressure on the rig, chain plates, and topsides, resulting in a more pronounced effect on the well-known too-small mast step problem.  The tie rod retrofit was a mechanical engineering solution to “correct a prior correction.”  Such is the story of an irrational love affair with an old wooden boat.  I will add, finally, the retrofit worked.  Email me if you’d like to discuss.  Prior to the deck/house work, we  did a very extensive four month refit, with some photos here.  Tie rod project photos follow.