Hello I was working on my boat and I realized that both the fore stay and samson post backing plates are starting to rot and should be replaced. 1. Since they are right next to each other could I make a backing plate for the two of them or would this do something negative in terms of spreading the strain out? 2. I got advice from someone saying I should use a thick plastic cutting board as a backing plate.... is this a good idea two quater inch plastic pieces with large washers or is that incredibly stupid? 3. I'm assuming 4200 would be fine for sealing the pieces back on the deck and for sealing the plates. 4. Should I be spackling with 4200... I broke a tube open so I decided to use it to fill in some cracks and chips in the gel coat... bad idea? Thanks I'm learning loads from everyone. Don
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Don, I have a little problem understanding why or how your
fore stay is attached to your deck unless your stem-head fitting is wrapped well over the stem and aft on the deck. If that is the case, the fore stay load should be mostly on the forward part of the stem head fitting fastened into the hull at the bow. The deck backing plate for that fitting then would not be as critical as the one on the bollard. I also don't know how much crown you have on the underside of your deck so I don't know how much the cutting board will have to flex when it's all bolted up. If it's too much, the cutting board might crack. Other than that possibility, the cutting board idea seems OK, because it won't rot and might be a permanent fix. So as far as the strength of the bollard is concerned, I believe it would be improved, if you had a one piece backing plate encompassing both the bollard and the fore stay deck plate. It obviously would be shaped to fit into the triangular area. Good luck Joe S
fore stay is attached to your deck unless your stem-head fitting is wrapped well over the stem and aft on the deck. If that is the case, the fore stay load should be mostly on the forward part of the stem head fitting fastened into the hull at the bow. The deck backing plate for that fitting then would not be as critical as the one on the bollard. I also don't know how much crown you have on the underside of your deck so I don't know how much the cutting board will have to flex when it's all bolted up. If it's too much, the cutting board might crack. Other than that possibility, the cutting board idea seems OK, because it won't rot and might be a permanent fix. So as far as the strength of the bollard is concerned, I believe it would be improved, if you had a one piece backing plate encompassing both the bollard and the fore stay deck plate. It obviously would be shaped to fit into the triangular area. Good luck Joe S
Stainless
Head stays and sampson posts need to be able to take a huge amount of strain. The larger the backing plates the better. Use a plate of stainless 3/16" or more in thickness. I can see nothing wrong with using one piece for both. 4200 is an excellent bedding compound for this application and can be spackled just fine, if a bit messy. Cleanup with WD40 or paint thinner. Acetone works well too but is incredibly toxic. DON'T cover gelcoat cracks and chips with sealant. It will all have to be ground out if a proper repair will ever be effected.
Head stays and sampson posts need to be able to take a huge amount of strain. The larger the backing plates the better. Use a plate of stainless 3/16" or more in thickness. I can see nothing wrong with using one piece for both. 4200 is an excellent bedding compound for this application and can be spackled just fine, if a bit messy. Cleanup with WD40 or paint thinner. Acetone works well too but is incredibly toxic. DON'T cover gelcoat cracks and chips with sealant. It will all have to be ground out if a proper repair will ever be effected.
Metal Backing Plates....
Where can you actually find metal backing plates... WM guys recomend using starboard... no one seems to carry it. Don
Where can you actually find metal backing plates... WM guys recomend using starboard... no one seems to carry it. Don
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