[C38] Cracks by Stem Fitting

[Ray Torok]

Chuck.  Ha!  You're one of those glass-is-half-full guys.  I hope you're
right.  Thanks again.

Ray
Thira  #37
San Francisco


On Fri, Sep 6, 2013 at 9:41 AM, Charles Finn <charles at finn.ws> wrote:

>  Ray,
> It actually is quite common for the gelcoat to crack with no structural
> problems.  Gelcoat is very brittle, while laid up glass has a much greater
> modulus of elasticity (one of reasons it works so well in boatbuilding).
>
>
> Chuck Finn
> Mighty Quinn #114
> Great Lakes
>
>
> On 9/6/2013 12:35 PM, Ray Torok wrote:
>
> 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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