Lifeline Stanchion Orientation Questions (Catalina 22)

[Carl Wonderful]

On my C22 the (middle) lifeline stanchions are angled inward toward the center of the boat. This makes the lifeline cord so cramped that I can barely get my legs/feet inside them to walk up front. I keep thinking that it would be really nice and open things up if I just turned these middle stanchions 180 degreees so they angled outward. It would give me so much more room to move when I walk up front and just make the boat look/feel more roomy. As they are angles in now, It does keep my body inward, which is maybe the idea but it also sort of throws me off and makes me fall inward, and seems borderline more dangerous as its so tight/cramped like this.

Anyone tried to rotate them out like this? Any reason no to do this...besides the fact that I would maybe need to drill new holes (depending).

Can I take it off and just BEND it the opposite way or at least bend it to make it straighter?

Thanks friends!

 

[Carl Wonderful]

Forgot to mention my boat is a 1971 C22. Actually not even sure they came with them back then.. or if the previous owner put these in?

This pic shows how angled it is. Hard to see cause it's angled same as the rear stay just behind it. Lemme know guys what you think and if anyone has tried them the opposite way to open these babies up a bit. They're crampin me! And yes the lifeline cables are very loose... I have tightened them since and they are just as cramped tight or loose.

 

[Apex]

The mounting feet are likely a trapezoid, so not easy to turn around. Could they be bent due to lifeline tension? Any distortion at the base? You can purchase stanchions with different angles, which is meant to deal with different cambers of decks.

 

[jssailem]

Watch boats as they approach the dock, and see how folks wanting to help the boat skipper grab for the boat to stop it from hitting the dock.

80% of the time helpers grab the lifeline or stanchion. This tends to bend life line stanchions and weaken them.

If you want your stanchions to be vertical go for it.

Here is the image of a Catalina Direct C-276 degrees out stanchion. Note the base orientation.

 

[dlochner]

Photos of the stanchion bases would be helpful.

It is unusual for the stanchions to be angled towards the middle of the boat.

Yes, people tend to grab the lifelines or stanchions when helping someone dock, however if they bend they will bend outwards because that is the direction they are pulling.

Lifelines should not be taut, there should be some slack in them. The math and physics behind this is the same as the math and physics behind suspension bridges, when loaded the lines put more of downward force on the stanchions.

 

[Carl Wonderful]

I believe after some research that these early C22 stanchions were bent in at this hard angle.. seems weird to me but I saw a few photos of other boats like this with the old ones.

Can I just take it off and bend it outward, because as someone mentioned the base is trapezoidal so I cant just flip it around.

 

[dlochner]

I believe after some research that these early C22 stanchions were bent in at this hard angle.. seems weird to me but I saw a few photos of other boats like this with the old ones.

Can I just take it off and bend it outward, because as someone mentioned the base is trapezoidal so I cant just flip it around.

If you bend it, you will weaken it. Not what you want with a life line.

It may be possible to take it off and turn it around, a closer photo would help. Since the holes won't line up, it will be necessary to fill the old holes with thickened epoxy and drill new holes. Not an impossible job.

 

[Carl Wonderful]

If you bend it, you will weaken it. Not what you want with a life line.

It may be possible to take it off and turn it around, a closer photo would help. Since the holes won't line up, it will be necessary to fill the old holes with thickened epoxy and drill new holes. Not an impossible job.

Yes that is what I was sort of planning on doing...turning it around. Can you recommend a specific epoxy for the job? Been trying to understand epoxy but still little confused about it all. Its a little overwhelming at first.

 

[...3TacksontheWater]

Epoxy is not for mounting stanchions. Epoxy is used to pot holes in the deck so as to prevent moisture from reaching the wood core that many fiberglass boats have. Stanchions are then through bolted and bedded with marine grade butyl tape.

George

 

[dlochner]

Filling screw holes and properly bedding fittings are skills every sailor needs to learn. One of the best tutorial is from Rod Collins on MarineHowTo.com.

Bedding Deck Hardware With Bed-IT Tape - Marine How To

Originally published December 2003 *Moved & Edited September 2017 Bedding With Bed-It Tape 5/20/2022 IMPORTANT UPDATE BED-IT TAPE IS BACK PURCHASE BED-IT TAPE Countersunk/Beveled Hole Over the years,

marinehowto.com

 

[JBP-PA]

Can you recommend a specific epoxy for the job? Been trying to understand epoxy but still little confused about it all. Its a little overwhelming at first.

For filling the old holes (thickened epoxy is the answer here), and for most jobs where epoxy is appropriate, you can't go wrong with WEST SYSTEM. They have great support, start here

User Manual & Product Guide | WEST SYSTEM Epoxy

The WEST SYSTEM Epoxy User Manual & Product Guide is the definitive handbook on using epoxy safely and effectively.

www.westsystem.com

It is pretty expensive. If you want an arguably equal quality product for a bit less, the TotalBoat line is excellent as well with products that are mostly the same as WEST SYSTEM. They have pretty good support too, but not as much reference material.

Stay away from 5 minute epoxy except for non-critical jobs.

 

[jssailem]

I believe after some research that these early C22 stanchions were bent in at this hard angle.. seems weird to me but I saw a few photos of other boats like this with the old ones.

The much-enjoyed Catalina 22
Stanchions were not installed on every boat.

Some stanchions bend in - some bend outwards.

Some have extended stern pulpits with no stanchions

Here, Little Spitfire has an extended Stern Pulpit with outwards-bending stanchions.

Your boat is yours, and you can modify it to suit your desires.

I suggest you follow the advice above regarding how to rebed the base and fill any holes that are not being used.

 

[Davidasailor26]

My preference would be vertical stanchions - no interference when walking the deck, and also no risk of the stanchion being the widest part of the boat and catching pilings when docking. But as jssailem suggests - your boat, your choice.

Yes, people tend to grab the lifelines or stanchions when helping someone dock, however if they bend they will bend outwards because that is the direction they are pulling.

Maybe, but I’ve also often seen the stanchions pushed on to fend a boat off the dock. Also if a dock has an overhang the stanchion could get pushed in from bumping against it. I assumed that’s what happened when I first aaw the OP’s picture. In a quick google search I can’t find any other Catalina 22’s like that, so I still think precious bending might be the cause.