Hunter 140 - gunwale stay attachment compromise

[Brent Franklin]

While sailing Ocean City MD in the bay the port side stay attached to the gunwale was pulled up at an awkward angle.
It was gusty and choppy and at the same moment a chop and gust put a hard pull on the attachment area and the gunwale bent up about 4-6 inches at the attached area. I came about and headed in with no pressure on the port stay. Upon examining the boat I could see a long crack where the hull side meets the gunwale. How can I repair this. I do not think just filling the crack with the plastic crack repair is going to be strong enough. Please help. Boat is a Hunter 140 built in 1999

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Take a photos of the top and underneath. I will try to help. Former Hunter dealer who introduced your boat

 

[Joe]

The best way to insure this won't happen is to install proper "chainplates" that will attach the "shrouds" securely to the hull, rather than the deck. In sailing jargon, a stay is fore and aft mast support wire. the side support wires are called shrouds (some small boat people call them "side stays") Chainplates are the metal tangs(steel plates) that connect the shrouds and stays to the boat's hull. This isn't as complicated as it sounds. You can order a pair of tangs/chainplates from just about any chandlery and always from any rigging supplier. On a 17 ft boat they won't have to be that heavy, but they should be long enough to spread the load from the rig vertically at least 6 to 8 inches. Use SS through bolts with large fender washers on the side opposite the tang. Post a picture and we can tell you exactly where to mouont it (inside the hull or outside)

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

I know the boat well as I sold and serviced the 170. It is a molded plastic boat. I told Hunter to build a fiberglass boat but the owner of JY was a better salesman. There were times Hunter came to me for advice regarding repairs.

 

[jssailem]

There were times Hunter came to me for advice regarding repairs.

Did you remind Hunter if it was a fiberglass boat the repair would be simple?

 

[shemandr]

I met the owner of JY at the New York Boat Show. He had just bought the business and I think he told me the purchase of the business included a patent on part of the boat molding process. He was a good salesman! I did manage to get out of there before taking a JY 14 home with me on the Long Island Railroad.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Yup I told hunter