Broken stanchion base

[gasdave]

Thought I'd ask the wider community for advice about this.

Neighbour accidentally caught his pulpit on my guardrails when blown off as he was trying to berth, causing my stanchion to flex on its base. Base fractured and the aluminium toe rail (the stanchion base hooks under the toe rail on these) now has a slight deflexion also. The deflexion appears only to be in the bit on top under which the base hooks - hull deck joint looks OK as far as I can see. Stanchion itself is not bent. Radial gelcoat cracks are obvious but inspection under deck (behind galley cupboard) shows no apparent damage and there is no water ingress under deck. Hopefully GRP will be OK but I can't tell for sure yet and suspect won't really know until gelcoat ground back. Expert(s) will be invited to assess.

My boat is a Bavaria 37 (2007) and I think the bases are made my them - according to their website I think its called "stanchion base large". Neighbour is embarrassed and keen to settle for any repairs/replacement.

My thoughts are that:-
1. I need a new base. Does anyone know where I can source one of these Bavaria ones other than from manufacturer?
2. Toe rail needs straightened to accommodate new stanchion base. How easy will it be to straighten out the small deflexion in aluminium? Failing that the section of toe rail will need replaced.
3. Is there anything else I ought to be considering regarding sound repair?

Thank you in advance.

 

[Laysula]

I think that clipper marine hold the stanchion bases in stock.

 

[Heckler]

Thought I'd ask the wider community for advice about this.

Neighbour accidentally caught his pulpit on my guardrails when blown off as he was trying to berth, causing my stanchion to flex on its base. Base fractured and the aluminium toe rail (the stanchion base hooks under the toe rail on these) now has a slight deflexion also. The deflexion appears only to be in the bit on top under which the base hooks - hull deck joint looks OK as far as I can see. Stanchion itself is not bent. Radial gelcoat cracks are obvious but inspection under deck (behind galley cupboard) shows no apparent damage and there is no water ingress under deck. Hopefully GRP will be OK but I can't tell for sure yet and suspect won't really know until gelcoat ground back. Expert(s) will be invited to assess.

My boat is a Bavaria 37 (2007) and I think the bases are made my them - according to their website I think its called "stanchion base large". Neighbour is embarrassed and keen to settle for any repairs/replacement.

My thoughts are that:-
1. I need a new base. Does anyone know where I can source one of these Bavaria ones other than from manufacturer?
2. Toe rail needs straightened to accommodate new stanchion base. How easy will it be to straighten out the small deflexion in aluminium? Failing that the section of toe rail will need replaced.
3. Is there anything else I ought to be considering regarding sound repair?

Thank you in advance.

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Thats an expensive job to do right!
Some one needs to take off the remnants, carefully jack the alu back, grind out the cracks, fill and fair with figlass then gel coat, carefully matched with the right colour. Then source the base! Nightmare!
Stu

 

[PaulRainbow]

Thats an expensive job to do right!
Some one needs to take off the remnants, carefully jack the alu back, grind out the cracks, fill and fair with figlass then gel coat, carefully matched with the right colour. Then source the base! Nightmare!
Stu

I agree with that Stu, but don't those cracks in the GRP look old to you ?

 

[gasdave]

I agree with that Stu, but don't those cracks in the GRP look old to you ?

I now know I can source the stanchion base from Clipper Marine (about £40 + VAT) and toe rail if necessary (sold as 6m lengths (£400 + VAT - ouch!).
There were some very fine spider cracks radiating out from the base previously but not as big as the ones you see in the pictures now.
I agree with Stu's assessment of what needs to be done, though the degree of GRP repair required has yet to be discovered. It may be the case that the stanchion base fractured early enough (perhaps weakened by corrosion as evident in pictures?) to have prevented much force being laid onto deck, but enough to open further any pre-existing cracks. I hope to know more later this week. It has crossed my mind as to whether I should consider replacing all the bases prophylactically while I'm at it?!