Bow Eye Replacement

[andersailing]

So, this weekend, I managed to snap the bow eye off of my O'Day Daysailer. (Sore subject, don't ask.:cussing Anyhow, there was no damage to the fiberglass hull, but I can't get into the back side of the bow because there's a fiberglass bulkhead inside the cuddy. I'm thinking of cutting a hole in the bulkhead so I can put a nut on the backside of a new bow eye and just putting a deck plate over the hole.

But before I start chopping fiberglass, is anyone aware of any kind of replacement bow eyes that could be anchored in without having to get into behind the hull? Maybe some sort of expansion anchor similar to what's used in concrete/drywall? Or some kind of epoxy method? I don't know...any ideas would be appreciated.

On a positive note, I gave the hull a bath with oxalic acid and wet sanded it with 1000 grit and followed up with a couple coats of wax. Man, does it shine! And very white, I might add. Cleaned the stains right up.

 

[Sail123]

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|6880|48504&id=47638

http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|6880|48504&id=47488

 

[31seahorse]

Hello andersailing,
I like GaryMayo's idea of putting one of those access ports in place on the bulkhead after you cut the access hole and do the necessary repair. That opening should make adding a substantial backer plate pretty straightforward. A bonus might be a small area of dry storage in that bow area. Also, there is nothing quite so exciting as drilling or cutting into the fiberglass of your boat's hull!

 

[All U Get]

Hi andersailing,
It's raining so I did a search for you, try this link.

http://forums.sbo.sailboatowners.com/showthread.php?t=130620

For the bow, a friend of mine bent some flat stock after drilling his holes so it fit into the bow. Remember to leave a flat spot where the bow eye bolts and take plenty of pictures.
All U Get

 

[Ron20324]

There are large eye nuts made for lifting day-racers in and out of the water by a crane on the dock. Possibly they are specific-made to thread onto keel bolts. If you can use just one eye to run a line through (like for the trailer winch), you could put a threaded rod from the bow, through the cubby, then put an appropriately-size backing place on the aft surface of that cubby that you said you hate to cut a big hole in. I'm not near my west catalog, but they might have them, or Annapolis Performance sailing (APS) ?

 

[Ward H]

I just had near the same issue. The bow eye on my boat was loose and not accessible. You can see my thread about the loose bow eye under the trailer sailer section. There is a photo of what I used.
I cut the access hole, then covered it with a $9 plumbing access panel from Lowes. May not be water tight when I was done but if there is that much water in the bow, I am sunk anyways.
Not sure on the O'Day but on my Newport 17 the forestay(term?) chain plate goes through the deck, down to and under the nut of the top bow eye bolt.

Neat thread All U Get linked to. Good info on backing plates.