[C320-list] Tip of the day

[Ken Geiger]

Hello. 

Our C320 in hauled and covered each year for the Ontario winter.  2 seasons ago she suffered a snow dump off the adjacent boat and the cover structure failed and caused the severe bending inward of the starboard side forward gate stanchion; The one with the 2 verticals going to the deck.  As well the stanchion forward of that was also bent in somewhat.

The gate stanchion was relatively easy to remove from the aft cabin and it straightened up surprisingly easy and well in a small press after I had made some pressing shoes in the diameter of the tube OD.  

For the other stanchion I made a two piece shoe half of which was welded to a 1/2 inch flat bar and that could be clamped around the base of the stanchion.  The flat bar, with a pad, was laid on the deck where I could stand on it and clamped to the base of the stanchion.  In that way the the base was held firm and counter acted by my weight standing on it as I pushed to straighten up the stanchion.  I may have used a pipe over the stanchion for leverage.  The bedding seemed unaffected.

Putting the gate stanchion back with a helper, took hours of cursing and swearing and devising special tools and the use of tape and glues; as holding 2 washers and turning a nut just to get it started was beyond the capability of my brain controlled hand in that awkward, confined and blind space .  

I think that some stanchions have much more difficult access than mine did or will require removal of cabinetry.

I have built a stronger cover support structure.  

FWIW

Ken



 

 

 

---- Original Message ----
From: Jeff Hare <Catalina at thehares.com>
To: C320-List <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Fri, Jun 10, 2016 10:43 am
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Tip of the day

That seems like a good approach to straightening a stanchion bent in the fore/aft direction.

I have to say I'm really disappointed with the design of the stanchions on our boat.  Dock hands have a habit of pushing against the lifelines or stanchions and they bend inward quite easily with no good way to bend them back outwards.  Not sure how many of the bolts are really accessible.

Thanks for the tip.
-Jeff 

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Chris Burti
Sent: Friday, June 10, 2016 8:51 AM
To: 320 <C320-List at catalina320.com>
Subject: [C320-list] Tip of the day

I woke up yesterday morning and noticed the midship port stanchion bent back at a twenty five degree angle. Not sure when it happened, but we were not aboard. I pulled out an old mainsheet tackle from a twenty seven footer that I keep aboard to use as a preventer and connected the snap shackles loops of ¼” line tied to the top of the bent stanchion and the base of the forward stanchion. I was able to straighten it with remarkable ease.

I'll have to rebed the stanchion, but that sure beats replacing it.

Thanks,
Chris Burti
aboard Commitment
ICW NC heading North