I have read several helpful posts about freeze damage to stanchions trapping lower lifelines -which has happened on my Hunter 33.5. Rather than replace the stanchions @ $107 each, (from Hunter direct - I need to replace 4), has anyone attempted to cut the lifelines off at the stanchion and somehow drill out the lower hole in the stanchion again (including drilling out the trapped piece of lifeline)? My stanchions seem to be structurally fine and I'm wondering if this would work rather than costly replacement. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated .
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Happened to Me...
...several years ago. I just cut the lifelines and left about 6" of the the lifelines in the stanchion. I replaced them (and the stanchions) and placed the stanchions in a consignment shop. They sold immediately! Apparently, the stanchion allows water to permiate from the top and it freezes during the winter. The expanding ice pushes a delrin "stiffener" up inside the stanchion and pinches the lifeline. What was recommended by Hunter was to drill a "weep hole" at the base of the stanchion to allow and entering water to "weep" from the bottom and drain the water before it freezes. I did that to the new stanchions because there was no "weep" hole. It works well for me. 12 years later - no problems. So I never drilled them out because the holes were bent slightly and distorted and rather that trying to have them repaired, just removed them. (It was a lot cheaper to replace them at that time.) One thing you may do is have a fabricating shop estimate how much it would cost for them the make some for you.
...several years ago. I just cut the lifelines and left about 6" of the the lifelines in the stanchion. I replaced them (and the stanchions) and placed the stanchions in a consignment shop. They sold immediately! Apparently, the stanchion allows water to permiate from the top and it freezes during the winter. The expanding ice pushes a delrin "stiffener" up inside the stanchion and pinches the lifeline. What was recommended by Hunter was to drill a "weep hole" at the base of the stanchion to allow and entering water to "weep" from the bottom and drain the water before it freezes. I did that to the new stanchions because there was no "weep" hole. It works well for me. 12 years later - no problems. So I never drilled them out because the holes were bent slightly and distorted and rather that trying to have them repaired, just removed them. (It was a lot cheaper to replace them at that time.) One thing you may do is have a fabricating shop estimate how much it would cost for them the make some for you.
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