Stern pulpit

[AADIVER]

My wife had trouble climbing over the crossbar connecting the port and starboard stern pulpit sections, so I removed it. Now the two sections are a bit wobbly. What suggestions do you have to reinforce them?

 

[cromer]

My wife had trouble climbing over the crossbar connecting the port and starboard stern pulpit sections, so I removed it. Now the two sections are a bit wobbly. What suggestions do you have to reinforce them?

New wife and weld the crossbar back in, or a slightly less expesive option is to purchase the 2 Piece Stern Pulpit for C-30 mkII and install that. You would have to see if that would fit. I'm sure there are other options also.

http://www.catalinadirect.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=2296&ParentCat=54

 

[AADIVER]

"New wife and weld the crossbar back in"

Neither one an option. Next...?

 

[shipwreck66]

I did the same thing for the same reason on my C27, with same result. What I am currently doing is using the ladder for stability while it is lifted upright, then both port and starboard sections are clamped to the ladder. Not perfect, but does add a bit of stability.

 

[AADIVER]

Each section, port and starboard has three legs so the sections are only a bit more "giving" with the connecting bar removed. Thanks for the tip with the ladder.

 

[AADIVER]

Correction: the sections have TWO legs, not three, so your ladder suggestion is much appreciated.

 

[Bad Obsession]

Too bad you couldn't fix it so that you had a removable cross bar that you take out when getting in and out of the boat and put it in at other times for stability.

The other option would be to add a support connected to the transom that went up and attached to the stern pulpit to support it better.

 

[AADIVER]

I'm going to add a third leg to each side. That should reinforce stability.

 

[shipwreck66]

I've thought of using a hinged "gate" to connect the two sections, but so far the ladder is serving that role. Ironically, I had to move to a different slip and no longer back her in.

 

[jrowan]

I personally don't think it very safe or seamanlike to depend on clamping to the ladder to stabilize a weakened pulpit rail. They are there to keep you from falling overboard of course, but if you do go over, I leave my ladder loosely secured so that I at least have a chance of lowering it from the water, rather than drowning. This happens more often than you might think. I've read about a lot of sailors falling overboard at dockside, & have no way to get out of the water. Most older sailors like us cannot get back on the boat, without the ladder being accessible. If its clamped down on both sides you have no chance. I always stress safetly over convenience. Perhaps some access steps installed at dockside would be a better alternative then weakening the pulpit rails. One of those cushy new raised helms seats would accomplish the same idea of an extra step from the cockpit side.

 

[shipwreck66]

The way I "secure" the two sections is with two plastic clips from WestMarine that are actually made to secure the ladder to the pulpit. It doesn't take all the wobble out, but some, and in the event of a man overboard drill you simply reach up and pull a rope, releasing the ladder. I actually already demonstrated this to appease my wife who had the same concern. Were we on open water with this craft I would not have opted to remove the bar in the first place for the same reason I don't like open transom boats in the deep blue. Believe me AA, I got a lot of the locals PO'd at me for removing the bar, but reminded them who A. owned the vessel B. helped fix theirs because they were clueless C. See point A again.

 

[AADIVER]

I'm having the boat hauled and bottom painted in a couple of weeks, at the same time having the additional legs added.

 

[shipwreck66]

Great minds think alike. We are hauling ours right after the 4th and are doing the same thing.

 

[jeffmacdonald]

I have been following this discussion for some time now and it aroused my curiosity. So in looking for some ideas I found this! Pretty cool design, take a look. Fllow the link:
http://sail247.org/archives/79

 

[shipwreck66]

That's actually pretty useful. We are looking to add the perch seats after the haul out is paid for and this would take care of the stability issue at the same time. Many thanks.

 

[FOB]

I saw this on my neighbours Aloha 34. I though this was a good idea, simply reove one pin and swing the support rail up. see picture attached. In your case, where you little stubs sticking out, you might be able to find a fitting that fits over the stubs, and just drill a hole thru the stub to insert a pin thru?

 

[jrowan]

Neat idea about using a pin & simple swing hinge. Wonder how they hold up that dingy on the transom when there's heavy winds blowin on it?

 

[FOB]

Neat idea about using a pin & simple swing hinge. Wonder how they hold up that dingy on the transom when there's heavy winds blowin on it?

I cant remeber what that dinghy davit system is called, but in that picture the dinghy is in its stored position. when they go underway, they flip the dinghy down and only the noise of the dink is touching the water.