Bow eye advice

[Nursemnr]

Hello Everyone
I have a 1985 H25.5. I need to install a bow eye. I really need advice. My area is more motorboats than sailboats. Marinas shy away from helping the sailing group. The sail club is good at assisting but only during the sail season.
My questions are: what size bow eye should I purchase. I will be installing a stainless steel plate along with it. What should the length of the plate be since I will have to have the machine shop make it to size and shape. And finally, the best placement of the eye. Thank you in advance. "Wild Child"

 

[Paul F]

You might buy an eye bolt from a motorboat dealer. I use Marine Max around here. They would know the correct size for your wt. of boat. As for as a backing plate, use heavy s.s. likely in the shape of a long rectangle laying vertically along the bow of the boat. The backing plate should be flush with the hull with no gaps between it and the hull.

 

[Barnacle Bill]

If you never had a bow eye in the boat (so that you are matching up existing holes, etc), then I would definitely go with the largest stainless steel u-bolt type. They come in various lengths to fit the thickness of your stem (the pointy end of your bow). Often they come packaged with a backing plate, but, if not, then definitely make up something to back it up. The stem of the boat should be one of the strongest areas and so will have lots of fiberglass thickness. I would not get one of the zamack or pot metal types, as they are not ultimately as strong as the stainless ones. Placement usually is dictated by where the bow eye is in relationship to a trailer jack so that the boat is properly pulled up to the right position height-wise to successfully pull the boat on the trailer. If you have a Hunter 25.5, then you might not be using a trailer, but need the bow eye for a mooring, etc.

 

[Wanderer138]

Why not just drill holes to match the U-bolt in a short piece of stainless steel tubing or bronze pipe bolt and use it instead of a backing plate inside the stem. Pipe fits better than a narrow plate and transfers load more uniformly to the hull. It's a trick I learned in my trailer-salier days.

 

[Nursemnr]

I want to thank you all for your ideas...........I must say....the stainless steel tubing idea sounds easier. I will let you all know how I make out!. I love this site and all the information I receive. thank you all again.

 

[peptobysmol]

SS tubing is certainly the "cadillac" for the eye bolt. I'd use galvanized steel tubing. Cheaper, easier to get (Home Depot) and much easier to drill. You still get all the benefits mentioned earlier with SS tubing too. Also, you may want to know how to drill a round tube? Here ya go. and Here.


Or you can do something very similar with a piece of angle iron with a hole drilled at the V and save some $$. Just invert the piece of angle iron with the tubing underneath it and presto. Then use a step drill bit to enlarge the hole if needed.

Good luck!

 

[Nursemnr]

My daddy raised me well and told me what tools I should own.... and I have the tool for drilling pipes..... (Thanks dad in heaven)

so the pipe idea has won out. thank you all!