Bow stem; ALL ripped the heck out

[BrotherB]

Apparently I was too fixated on my amazing approach while motoring to a slip to notice that the spot I was entering had an overhang. So, thanks to my trusty motor I was able to hit reverse and keep the mast from hitting, but not without damage already done: The stem, bolts, plate and all, came off with the forestay, and with this came a nice rectangle of plywood and lots of fiberglass.

Now I have ordered the reinforcement kit, but have any of you gained any unfortunate experience with getting the structure back up to par? I can fiberglass, but that plywood might come back in handy. My plan is to cut the existing hole, and new plywood, to a puzzle-like shape for added strength, and glass that in. Also, I was thinking that I would cut and fit aluminum to be bolted to the cleats, pulpit, and forestay to cary the load of the forestay/feet.

Thoughts?

 

[DavoArts]

Re:

I don't have any adivce but I'll share my pain, I was driving to launch at the ramp one day at the lake (a different one than normal since the sailboat ramp was under repair) and the good old army corps was behind on their tree trimming and I used my upper shroud to do their job for them, tearing off a spreader bracket as well as a huge tree branch that then proceeded to fall right right on the forward stanchion and lifelines. I guess it was nature's way of telling me I need to go ahead and order that spreader bracket upgrade kit...

 

[BrotherB]

Haha I hate to laugh, but I did. This has given me time to clean and tackle little things that I would have put off otherwise, so from every bad can come something good for the future. Thanks

 

[BrotherB]

109 views and nobody has experience with this?! I must be special.

 

[CaptDon01]

A photo might help estimate the damage. I would look at the WEST Epoxy web site. That may give you some ideas. I've had GREAT luck with their products over the years. On our older C-22, I installed one of the new style bow fittings for the forestay. It has a tang that goes down to the hull for added strength.

Good luck, anyway you look at it, this has to be a big job.

Don

 

[DeepBlueSeas]

... I installed one of the new style bow fittings for the forestay. It has a tang that goes down to the hull for added strength.

Don

If you are rebuilding the deck around the bow the new fitting with the tang would be a great addition...

Sorry to hear about your mishap!

 

[Ken]

BB,

I'd offer you advise if I had any, but I nor anyone I sail with have ever had any experience with ripping out the stem fitting. I do however know several that have replaced the foredeck plywood. But once again of those that have done it not one tore out the stem fitting and all had water damage making it easier to remove the plywood.

All but one did the repair from inside the boat. The one that chose to cut the deck rather than the liner has continued to have problems with leaks. Cutting the liner isn't a huge problem nor is putting it back. At least two chose to flip the boat to do the repair and let gravity work for them during the repair.

Advise given from Don is spot on, I would add give them a call at West systems they will be more than happy to talk to you and give you advise on the repair.

I took advantage of this myself not long ago and was surprised at the length of the phone call. When over, not only did I do the repair, but did it 180* different than I had first planned.

~~~_ /) ~~~

 

[Barry B.]

Brother B,

West System has a great book on fiberglass boat repair which should be of help to you. If the area to repair is not too large you could use a form underneath to hold your repair in place while you glass in the top part than when that cures you could remove the form and put a couple layers of glass on the bottom. A small repair like thar shouldn,t be too hard to do that way. I actually flipped my C22 over, but I had to recore the entire fore deck all the way back to the jib sheet winch pedastals.

 

[BrotherB]

Thanks to you all for the replies. I hate it when people don't include a pic, then I'm to focused to put one in myself. The reinforcement kit was the first thing I ordered, and it's here. My buddy is making a plate from 1/8" steel that connects the bow pulpit and bow stem together for added strength. Definitely calling West today; great idea. Here's a couple pictures, and thanks again:



Not sure why the pics are coming in sideways

 

[Barry B.]

Brother B,

Where are you located, I have some Marine Plywood scraps left over from my recore project that you can have to laminate to the underside of your deck that would fill in the entire forepeak area where the stem fitting pulled out. It would reinforec that whole area and be stronger than the original deck. To E-mail me click my name on the left and select the link from the drop down box, if you include a phone number we can discuss the best way to fix the hole. I type way to slow to message it!!!

 

[BrotherB]

Hey, in case anyone subscribed I'll chime back in. I couldn't get logged in on here for a while, which was very annoying, but it seems fixed now. I ended up using my auto-body skills and layered two different types of fiberglass in three different ways, and it is SO strong now. I still need to gel-coat it, but it's sealed, and I've been sailing the heck out of it!!! I'll post pics in a bit. Thanks for the advice and helpful offers!