[C38] Cracks by Stem Fitting

[D McC]

Ray, 

While we are on the subject of the stem and stem bolts, at our last haulout the yard owner noted that the stem bolts on boats as aged as ours have been known to suffer from some corrosion and he recommended changing them out. Ours had some light rust stains running down the bow. I removed one at a time and found that several were, in fact, showing some signs of degradation. Nothing catastrophic but certainly worth replacing. His concern was that as the bolts degrade the stem might creep up a bit. 
I don't know if this could be contributing to the cracking but it is worth considering.

Fair Winds, 


~Dave

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The gods do not deduct from man's allotted span those hours spent in sailing.
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>________________________________
> From: Ray Torok <torok13731 at gmail.com>
>To: Catalina 38 Listserve <listserve at catalina38.org> 
>Sent: Thursday, September 5, 2013 5:56 PM
>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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