As part of the Sisyphean task of eliminating leaks from my old-new boat (which
is a veritable sieve above the waterline), I have been rebedding every screw
and bolt on deck in the appropriate gook or putty.
Today I removed the bow pulpit and was unhappy to find that the gelcoat and
fiberglass had numerous hairline cracks radiating out from the three bolt
holes under both of the aft stanchions. Some of the cracks are up to 2-3
inches long, but none of them reach as far as the cored part of the deck.
I don't think this is a real structural worry about the deck failing in any
way in that area because it seems plenty strong still. But I'm undecided
about what to do. There were no backing plates under the stanchions and I'll
probably add some plates or fender washers. The deck is properly designed,
thank goodness, for mounting the bow pulpit (not all boat builders are that
conscientious); there's no wood core in that area, so core rot is not an
issue.
I don't relish the idea of repairing the cracks in the gelcoat; I'm pretty
inexperienced when it comes to gelcoat repair and I'd rather have it turn out
looking professional than crummy. (I'm sure it costs plenty of Boat Bucks to
hire a professional to do all the cracks and dings all over the boat). Ah
well, maybe the best course of action is to live with the cracks.
I surmise that the damage was caused by using a block on the bow pulput as to
raise the mast. The main halyard was used by the previous owner to raise the
mast. He ran it from the masthead, forward to a block on the bow pulpit and
back to a winch on the cabin top. It's a convenient system, you can stop in
mid-task to unfoul a stay that has caught on something -- but it clearly put
too much stress on the deck and the bow pulpit itself (the round stainless
steel plates on the base of the stanchions are slightly bent)
I appeal to the collective wisdom of the group for advice and ideas...
Judy Blumhorst, DC
WWP-19 #266 "Red Wing"
SF Bay, CA