Howto increase hull stiffness?

C

cwsa44

.
May 26, 2008
2
Does anyone else have problems with creaking/banging coming from
the 'stairway' when the boat is rolling? I have checked all the nuts
and bolts but there still seems to be a lot of movement in that area.
Is that normal? What should I do to fix it?

thanks for any suggestions
 
R

rogerefairest

.
Jul 6, 2007
106
I got that problem too, and have asked other sailors,
who say it is normal.

It is easily explained, but a bit worrying when
experienced.

As long as all the nuts and bolts are not loose, then
that the way it must be (or I like to think so).
 
G

groundhogyh

.
May 30, 2006
1,075
Maybe I need to be in rougher seas, but I have never heard any banging in mine. A tiny bit of creaking from rigging and stuff, but nothing to take note of.
When you say "stairway" I assume you are talking about the engine compartment....
I have to say though, I haven't yet been out in a storm.
roy

cwsa44 cwsa44@... wrote:
Does anyone else have problems with creaking/banging coming from
the 'stairway' when the boat is rolling? I have checked all the nuts
and bolts but there still seems to be a lot of movement in that area.
Is that normal? What should I do to fix it?

thanks for any suggestions
 
G

groundhogyh

.
May 30, 2006
1,075
One more thing...
Noises come from something. I would think you want to positively identify anything makeing big noise. Anchors in cockpit lockers rolling around?
rb

cwsa44 cwsa44@... wrote:
Does anyone else have problems with creaking/banging coming from
the 'stairway' when the boat is rolling? I have checked all the nuts
and bolts but there still seems to be a lot of movement in that area.
Is that normal? What should I do to fix it?

thanks for any suggestions
 
B

brettgoldstone

.
Nov 21, 2002
34
My vega (137) makes plenty of noise in the big swells. It is usually creaking between the wood bulkheads and the flexing fibreglass hull and cockpit shapes. Not a problem I should think.
Brett
 
A

albinvega1493

.
Dec 15, 2006
139
You might check the screws that secure the bulkhead to the hull. There
is a bulkhead approximately at the companionway (steps) and some of the
screws are nealy impossible to tighten without removing the icebox.
Good luck. When I went through mine, I had a lot of missing screws,
loose screws, and missing nuts.

Larry
"Kemanalea" Hull 1493
SF Bay Area
 
T

towlerg

.
Mar 27, 2001
121
Hi Larry,

"creaking and banging" doesn't sound good. Don't forget the Vega is
built like a BSH, so don't worry about hull stiffness unless you have
evidence to the contrary, like stress cracks or seeing distortion in
the flat parts of the hull/deck.

Of the symptoms of the principle Vega design fault (mast step area) I
don't remember anybody reporting creaking - just stress cracks and
movement. Wood creaks but fiberglass bends and eventually fails.

That said, of course check that the bulkheads are securly fixed to
the hull. My own guess would be ..... I don't know, can't think what
might cause banging and creaking, maybe two separate problems. Maybe
something loose in an unaccessible part of the boat, a door that opens
and closes, a pixie, dunno.

Has the mast step on you boat been dealt with?

Anyway when you figure it out, which you will, let us all know.

George Towler "Vista" 1043
 
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