[C38] Cracks by Stem Fitting

[Steve Smolinske]

I would say no, I can't imagine anything on a boat that would not ever
get any worse

 

From: listserve-bounces at catalina38.org
[mailto:listserve-bounces at catalina38.org] On Behalf Of Ray Torok
Sent: Friday, September 06, 2013 9:22 AM
To: Catalina 38 Listserve
Subject: Re: [C38] Cracks by Stem Fitting

 

Hi Steve,

 

I have a backstay tensioner, but it's only on when we're sailing.  When
the boat's at the dock, the backstay is left on just enough to keep the
headstay from flopping around.

 

Latest theory is that when I replaced the two bolts that anchor the stem
fitting to the deck (a few weeks ago), there was enough slop in the bolt
holes that when the headstay was tensioned, the fiberglass in the deck
was loaded in compression until the stem fitting moved back just a
little to where the two bolts and the stainless stem fitting picked up
the load again. If that's what happened, the cracking in the fiberglass
shouldn't get any worse.  Does that sound believable?

 

Thanks,

 

Ray

 

On Thu, Sep 5, 2013 at 10:48 PM, Steve Smolinske
<SSmolinske at rainierrubber.com> wrote:

Ray,

 

Do you have a backstay tensioner that is left on?

 

From: listserve-bounces at catalina38.org
[mailto:listserve-bounces at catalina38.org] On Behalf Of Ray Torok
Sent: Thursday, September 05, 2013 5:56 PM
To: Catalina 38 Listserve
Subject: [C38] Cracks by Stem Fitting

 

Esteemed C38 Gurus:

 

Hoping you can help advise on my latest old boat issue. 

 

I have some cracks showing up (and growing) on the outside of the hull
in the few inches between the ends of the toe rails and the headstay
stem fitting.  The cracks are horizontal and about 3 inches long. On one
side the crack is about 1 inch below the deck.  On the other it is right
at the edge of the deck.  

 

It appears that the headstay load is pulling the bow upward, and the
last few inches of the bow doesn't have the toe rail and bolted
hull-to-deck joint of the rest of the boat, so it's bending a bit and
the fiberglass is cracking. On the inside, the heavy stainless backing
plate for the strap running down the stem also stops several inches
short of the bow, and that may be a contributing factor.

 

I'm wondering if this is a problem with the early boats (mine is hull
#37) that they fixed at some point. Any thoughts on known or proposed
fixes would be appreciated.

 

Thanks much,

 

Ray Torok

THIRA

 

 


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