Stanchion help needed: 1980's boats

[Phil Herring]

We've made some good progress on those aluminum stanchion bases that have been so problematic.

We have a drawing of one in hand, pending verification of dimensions. The next step for that one is production!

However, as we dig through the data we see there is more than one variation of this design, depending on the profile of the toe rail.

I'm posting a photo of the base we have; if it looks like the one on your boat please let me know. Take a close look because the differences between the various designs can be subtle.

Also, if you have access to your boat this time of year we would really appreciate any photos of your aluminum stanchion base and, if possible, dimensions. Ideally we can find some kind of compromise design that will allow us to make one reasonably-priced replacement for all these models.

Thanks for your help!

 

[jdhohmann]

We've made some good progress on those aluminum stanchion bases that have been so problematic.

We have a drawing of one in hand, pending verification of dimensions. The next step for that one is production!

However, as we dig through the data we see there is more than one variation of this design, depending on the profile of the toe rail.

I'm posting a photo of the base we have; if it looks like the one on your boat please let me know. Take a close look because the differences between the various designs can be subtle.

Also, if you have access to your boat this time of year we would really appreciate any photos of your aluminum stanchion base and, if possible, dimensions. Ideally we can find some kind of compromise design that will allow us to make one reasonably-priced replacement for all these models.

Thanks for your help!

If I had to venture a guess, they look quite similiar to the stanchion brackets on my '85 Hunter 40 Legend

 

[Don Crowther]

Phil

They look alot like the ones I sent you pictures of last year. Do you have a side profile picture of where they slip under the toe-rail? I'll attach a couple of pictures for you to compare.

 

[Phil Herring]

That's the one we're missing, all right. (Or, one of them anyway.) I may be able to work with the photos but is there any chance I can borrow one of these from you? I promise to make it worth your while.

H31 owners: is this the same base that's on the 31 as well?

 

[Don Crowther]

Yes it's the same base as what was on my 31. Pm me for phone #

 

[Mike Culik]

Not on my 86 H31 . Ill try and get a picture this weekend

Mike

 

[kloudie1]

H-34 stancion Base

A little late, Phil These are on my 1985 model 34.. I had never noticed the small lip that goes into the outboard groove in the toe rail.. nor did I appreciate the radius for the top bead on the toe rail.. Was there yesterday (note shorts) and got some pictures and dimensions..

 

[Phil Herring]

Those are great pix kloudie1, thank you!

I've got a real live base coming from Don later this week so we should have our questions answered soon.

Is there any mechanism to hold the stanchion in the base? Besides gravity and osmosis?

 

[kloudie1]

Yes, I think Don's base is exactly the same as mine. The stanchion .... I've never taken one off, so I don't know. I think there is a plug in the base with a stud about 3/4" long so the base of the stanchion goes into the big hole in the base bottom and the stud bolts through the toe rail extrusion..
It would be good to have some stanchions for this model run too.. I think the 31 used the same ones.. 24" high, 1" base diameter .. starts to taper about 12" from the base.. tapers to 1/2" diameter at top.. has a 3/4" long piece of 1/2 tube welded perpendicularly on top .. has a 1/2" hole, 11 3/4" from bottom for the intermediate life line.

 

[Phil Herring]

Got it. A few pix of that would be great, if it's not too much trouble. Thank you!!

 

[jmce1587]

1983 H31 Stanchion Holders

attached are photos of my 1983 H31 (Hull no 388) for your use. hope this helps

 

[Don Crowther]

stantions from 83 hunter 31/34

Here's a couple of pictures of the stantions I have. Are these the ones you were thinking of?
They are 24 inches long and have a taper from about the 14 mark. The lowest life line hole is 12 inches from the bottom.

 

[DianaOfBurlington]

I am really concerned that people are attempting to replace aluminum stanchion bases with old parts. This is the very worst material to use for stanchions whose lifelines may be called-upon to actually save a life. If you want them just for appearances' sake, however, they'll suffice.

Bases of cast stainless steel, duly replaced every 15-odd years or so, are vastly preferable. (The only thing better is polished cast bronze.) As a second choice one could use machined or fabricated ones. Fabricated aluminum is just not sound enough in a salt-water environment to avoid pitting and and corrosion in key areas, such as at corners and at wear places. And the constant and inevitable wreaking of the stanchion in the hole will add further wear, corrosion and weakness.

I expect this is one of those areas in which Hunter, in the mid-1980s, attempted to save cost and to the detriment of the products' overall quality. Such measures were unheard-of in the first ten years of the company.

 

[Phil Herring]

Hi J,

There hasn't been any alternative the past 10 years or so, but we have new replacement bases in the works.

 

[Rich Wallace]

34 stanchion bases

I broke one of the bases at the gate years ago and took the second one back from the front to replace it. The interesting thing was that the bottom hole was in a different place which changed the vertical position on the actual stanchion. The forward ones were nearly vertical, the one at the gate leaned out about an inch or a little or more at the top. There is no reason that they cannot all be vertical, but I just wanted to be sure that the expectation about the stanchion position is handled before someone buys one.
Moved on to a P42 10 years ago but remember the unsuccessful effort I put out trying to find a new base.

 

[heart of gold]

Re: H-34 stancion Base

I just replaced my lifelines on my '85 H34 and the gate stanchion was bent on both sides. I thought also that they were bolted through from the bottom but that is not the case. They just fit snugly into the base and there is a screw threaded into the side of the stanchion near the bottom that keeps it from coming up. I was able to remove the screw and turn the stanchion around and then "straighten it somewhat with the new life lines. They may be aluminum but there is no sign of deterioration. I will be great to have a source of new ones though.