[C38] Cracks by Stem Fitting

[Ray Torok]

Thanks Chuck,

I see no evidence of cracking inside the hull, so there is hope.  However,
it's hard to understand how the glass up there can move enough to crack on
the outside, without the crack extending into the glass.  You're right.  I
need to get out the grinder.



On Fri, Sep 6, 2013 at 9:30 AM, Charles Finn <charles at finn.ws> wrote:

>  Ray,
> Obviously there is more to this as you just did some kind of repair for
> some reason.  The best way to find if there is a problem is to discover
> whether the cracks are superficial or structural.  Take a small grinder,
> mototool, or even a screw driver and gouge the gelcoat out of the cracks.
> IF the crack does not extend into the glass, you fix the gelcoat and call
> it a day.  IF the crack extends into the glass, then you have a structural
> repair which will require you to first cut out and then rebuild.   Here is
> hoping this is superficial!
>
> Chuck Finn
> Mighty Quinn  #114
> Great Lakes
>
>
> On 9/6/2013 12:21 PM, Ray Torok wrote:
>
> 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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>>
>
>
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