Life Line Stanchion Replacement

[Charlietuna]

My Catalina 28 MK-II had two lifeline stanchions bent as a result of Hurricaine Charley. The bend appears to be in the area just above the base plate and where the "U" shaped piece of SS is welded to the post. I hesitate just trying to bend the stanchions back into place as it appears that it will require great force to accomplish this and I can just see the the bolts and backing plates pulling out from under the deck. One of the bent stanchions is the rearmost and the screw/bolt that holds the diaginal piece to the toe rail is pulling up out of the toe rail. I want to remove the stanchions; see if I can correct the bend and replace them or purchace new stanchions.I contacted Catalina Customer Service in CA and I was told that the stanchions were through bolted. I would have to figure out how to take the interioir apart in order to get to the nuts so that the bolts and backing plate could be removed while the stanchion is removed topside. How can one get under the toe rail to access that bolt? Has anyone actually done this? I see so little space. I can't figure out through which layers the stancions are bolted, the deck, the liner and back in the head, the shower wall. Does anyone know a person with arms that are long and VERY thin(I mean Olive Oyle thin)? Can anyone give me some pointers?

 

[Augie Byllott]

Life Line Stcnchion Replacement

From what you write, it would seem as if your setup differs from that on my '78 Catalina 30 on which the nuts and backing plates for the stanchions are visable and accessible.Since no one has yet responded, I'll take a stab at your question.Removing the stanchions could be done relatively easily by drilling the heads off the bolts. The first question, then, becomes whether the remainder of the bolts, with nuts attached could be pushed down by inserting a rod and tapping with a hammer. Is there a "soft" headliner which would reveal the locations of the pushed down nuts? The next question would be whether there would be enough room to get a nut and split ring washer onto a new bolt.If the answer to both questions is likely to be "yes", I might be willing to take a chance and drill out one bolt to see what happens.Since only two stanchions are involved, if I was unable to get at the nuts, I would consider drilling out the entire bolt, enlarging the hole to about 3/4 inch diameter, as deep as allowable, and "wiggling" the drill to make the bottom of the hole larger than the top. Then I'd fill the void with epoxy. I'd determine the largest diameter bolt that the stanchion base plate could accommodate, enlarging the holes, if necessary. Then, I'd use a drill and tap to cut threads in the cured epoxy to match the threads of the bolt, and assemble things, bedding the stanchion with suitable material.However, I think I would speak with the folks at Catalina to get their view on these ideas.Alternatively, you might speak with several sailboat riggers. There are many who include stanchion replacement in their repertoire. With a little jawboning, you may find the answer you are looking for.