Stanchions akimbo ?

[EnglishIrishman]

On my (relatively new to me) Parker 21, the midships stanchions are quite bent, but before I go about straightening them, should they be straight (i.e. normal to the raked side-decks and therefore splayed out somewhat ) or plumb ( i.e. still a bit bent ) ? They're the little short aluminium stanchions (circa 400 long) with a single lifeline.

 

[rogerthebodger]

straightening tubular stanchions is very difficult to get right as there will still be some bend / kink in the pipe.

The normal way is to cut the bend out and insert a piece with sleaves inside and welds and polish the welded join

What are your stanchions made from stainless steel or aluminums

 

[EnglishIrishman]

They're aluminium.
I'm well familiar with the perils (and likely success or otherwise) of re-bending aluminium, and will replace if necessary, but I'm just not entirely sure what the target is.... straight or plumb ?

 

[VicS]

They're aluminium.
I'm well familiar with the perils (and likely success or otherwise) of re-bending aluminium, and will replace if necessary, but I'm just not entirely sure what the target is.... straight or plumb ?

Plumb.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

I don’t know about your boat but mine have an offset from the deck that increases as you go forward. It keeps the stanchions from protruding outwards. Beam stanchions are not offset.

 

[Misterbreeze]

I replaced all my stanchions and bases last year and inadvertently ordered straight bases instead of angled (6°?) as per originals. Net effect is the stanchions splay out but allow more room for squeezing round shrouds in wet weather kit on a narrow deck, so rather pleased I got it wrong!

 

[William_H]

If my experience is anything to go by your stanchions were bent when arriving at a jetty. Hence the more they extend outwards the more susceptible to damage again. In fact I gave up on stanchions for this reason on 21fter. ol'will

 

[DanTribe]

My S/S stanchions became bent inwards from years of people pushing on the top.
I have turned the whole lot round so that they now splay slightly out. No detrimental effects so far.