Adding U-bolts to gunwhale of H23.5

[Rick Macdonald]

I back into my marina slip but it's undergoing some renovations with the result that I have to slide the boat forward 3 feet or more from where it is now. This means that the bow of the boat will be past the end of the slip and my bow line can't be perpendicular.I'm afraid the bow might swing out too much, in which case there isn't anything else to attach a dock line to other than a stanchion, which I wouldn't do.There are a few things bolted to the gunwhale now, and all appear to be drilled through with backing plates visible underneath: lifeline u-bolts at stearn; stern rail seat supports, and the shroud U-bolts.I'm wondering if the entire length of the gunwhale is strong, or if the positions listed above are specially reinforced. I'm thinking of attaching a U-bolt to the gunwhale at a point perpendicular to the last cleat on the dock.Does anybody know?...RickM...

 

[Tom Wootton]

Gunwale

While I don't have an answer to your specific question, I can tell you that I added spring (midship) cleats to the gunwales of my H26, using SS fender washers bent to the curve of the hull/deck joint for backing. I wouldn't try to lift the boat by them, but they're fine so far (2 years.) IIRC, the drill went through about an inch of fiberglass.

 

[Rick Macdonald]

Cleats, eh?

Tom -Cleats sound better than U-bolts, but I didn't think there would be enough room left to wrap the dock lines on the cleats. Do you remember the cleat size and the dockline size? Do you attach both spring lines to the one cleat?For spring lines, I put a short loop of (I think) 5/8" line from one shroud U-bolt to the other, fastened simply with stopper knots, and then wrap the spring lines around this loop. It seems to hold and not chaffe much....RickM...

 

[Tom Wootton]

Cleats

They are 6" or 8" marelon, I think, fastened with 1/4" bolts. I use a single 1/2" spring line for each side, tied off to fore and aft pilings, with a loop in the middle to fasten to the cleat.