Broken Stemhead/bow roller assembly

[BobbyD]

Hi All

Steamhead/bow roller assembly on Beneteau 281 has sheared off during the recent weather whilst on mooring buoy. It looks like a very specific unit, not something off the shelf. I am contacting Beneteau to see if they have the part but given it’s age, not sure how likely this will be. I was always worried the mooring would give way before the boat!

Anyone had similar experience and what was the fix - I image in these parts would be v. expensive.

Thx

 

[DownWest]

Ouch, cast ally.
You might have to get an SS one fabricated up. At least it is seperate from the forestay.
Edit
Or, maybe take it to a good welding shop?

 

[BabaYaga]

Not a very sound design IMHO.
If it had not been for the incorporated, open fairlead, the fitting would have been stronger.

You might have to get an SS one fabricated up.

I agree. You could use the same hole pattern. I would use a closed fairlead, if any.

 

[doug748]

As DownWest, I would have it welded up for this season to get sailing. the worst part will be getting those bolts out. After that you could devise something better in stainless though if you are like me you will probably refit and forget.
As above as well....get a bar welded across the open fairleads and Bob's your uncle.

.

 

[Boathook]

Either get it welded or find an aluminium casting crowd and find out how much to cast a new one using the old one as a 'mould'. I suspect the original was a cheap grade of material to using a better alloy would add strength.
Removing the screws holding it in place is another problem to resolve.

 

[BobbyD]

Thanks for the responses. The yard are looking at options for welding as a temporary solution but of out interest, why would the bolts be a problem to remove? I am not at the boat to be able to see the setup but are these likely inaccessible from beneath the deck or just going to be very tight?

 

[Tranona]

Stainless steel through aluminium usually equals corrosion, plus access to nuts. particularly the one at the front. alternately the screws maybe into aluminium plates bonded into the moulding. Either way they are unlikely to come out easily.

Is it an insurance job?

 

[Neeves]

To me that looks a significant piece of cast aluminium and I surprised it failed in a mooring application. Even if you are exposed to the full brunt of a Storm I'd expect to see some damage to the textile (and unless you have changed it - the rope looks pristine (well almost). Moorings are meant to be designed such that snatch loads are minimised.

My guess is, if its a professional mooring, the failure occurred earlier - someone ran into something hard and unforgiving.

I appreciate you want to use your yacht - but this is obviously an insurance claim (Tranona beat me to it) - and I'd be wondering whether the fault lies with the mooring contract. But there again ......

None of this help you.

I am totally unfamiliar with the yacht and cannot really work out where the 'bow roller' is located. The device is simply two fair leads . I'd take the other one off, repair the fibre glass and replace the casting with 2 off the shelf fair leads - with maybe a bow roller separating the 2 new fairleads. I note the forestay chainplate rests on the cast device - have the chain plate abutting against the back part of a new bow roller.

You might get lucky, maybe Benny will have the parts - I'd have a Plan B (start looking for alternatives - post them here - get some more comments). That's what the forum is for.

Jonathan

 

[wingcommander]

Bolts will be well seasond. If access to nuts underneath is reasonable , you'd be better starting their rather than attacking with Allan key ( less chance of rounding off the hex) . There is always the drill option

 

[BobbyD]

To me that looks a significant piece of cast aluminium and I surprised it failed in a mooring application. Even if you are exposed to the full brunt of a Storm I'd expect to see some damage to the textile (and unless you have changed it - the rope looks pristine (well almost). Moorings are meant to be designed such that snatch loads are minimised.

My guess is, if its a professional mooring, the failure occurred earlier - someone ran into something hard and unforgiving.

I appreciate you want to use your yacht - but this is obviously an insurance claim (Tranona beat me to it) - and I'd be wondering whether the fault lies with the mooring contract. But there again ......

None of this help you.

I am totally unfamiliar with the yacht and cannot really work out where the 'bow roller' is located. The device is simply two fair leads . I'd take the other one off, repair the fibre glass and replace the casting with 2 off the shelf fair leads - with maybe a bow roller separating the 2 new fairleads. I note the forestay chainplate rests on the cast device - have the chain plate abutting against the back part of a new bow roller.

You might get lucky, maybe Benny will have the parts - I'd have a Plan B (start looking for alternatives - post them here - get some more comments). That's what the forum is for.

Jonathan

The boat went back in the water on 28th March and I visited it about a week later and all was fine. The yard noticed the issue yesterday as they serviced the engine. I assume the storms over the past week have caused the damage but I am no expert. I planned on starting using it over the next bank holiday so a real shame.

I also wondered last night if this should go via insurance. I am a little concerned that it’s still on the mooring with the damage - the cleats are OK and I have back up lines to the winches on both mooring lines. Yard seems to think it’s fine but i guess liability would lie with me if anything does happen.

Perhaps a stupid question but how would one decide if this needs to go to insurance or not and do they decide if it needs to come off the water?

 

[Tranona]

If you have all risks cover it should cover it. You need to start with getting an estimate of costs. Expect it would have to come out as the forestay will need to be detached. Talk to the yard if they do repairs. The decision on whether to claim depends on your excess and the estimate for the repairs. Then talk to your insurer. Suspect they will pay out on such a relatively small claim without too much hassle. If the forestay is secure you could still use the boat but anchoring would be limited because the bow roller has gone.

 

[38mess]

I know this is of no use to you, but around ten years ago I did a City and guilds welding course for the job I was then involved in.

Once people at my yacht club found out I had a steady trade in stuff that needed welding repair or re fabrication.

In fact my tutor got involved and we had a nice little earner going on for a while.

That can be easily repaired in stainless, or a new one fabricated. Try your local fabrication shop.

 

[LadyInBed]

Perhaps a stupid question but how would one decide if this needs to go to insurance or not and do they decide if it needs to come off the water?

Insurance claims are sometimes not worth the hassle if the cost of repair is near what you are liable for in excess is on your policy also taking into account any loss of NCD.
With a lift out, fabrication of a new stemhead and fitting costs will soon mount up so you will have to do the sums.

 

[geem]

I know you are keen to use the boat but for me I would want to sort that problem properly. I would remove the whole lot and take it to a fabricator to make a new fitting in stainless steel. The cost would not be massive

 

[Norman_E]

I saw a similar looking broken one, from a bigger boat a few years ago in Turkey. One of the stainless steel fabricators in Marmaris made a very good replacement.
There is now a problem in that although the part that is still attached can be removed if the bolts can be shifted, a replacement cannot be refitted without removing the forestay

 

[doug748]

Thanks for the responses. The yard are looking at options for welding as a temporary solution but of out interest, why would the bolts be a problem to remove? I am not at the boat to be able to see the setup but are these likely inaccessible from beneath the deck or just going to be very tight?

It's often sods law of boats that things get very tight, plus the access is poor up there. If they are stuck hard there may not be room to drive them downwards and no room to swing a hammer to knock them upward. Anyway if the yard man is doing it, you may need some sympathy : -)

Next time you have a chance stick your hand in and feel what's underneath. If it's a nut and washer it's good news. You might even put some penetrating oil or diesel on the heads to ease things. Take care not to contaminate the weld area though.

I would not hesitate to use the boat in that condition, if things get protracted. Lots of large racing boats have little provision for mooring but get by. You can never buy back or purchase lost sailing time if the weather turns good.

.

 

[Sandy]

You don't say where you are, but any good fabricator will be able to make a new one.

If you are near Plymouth Phoenix 316 at QAB are masters of their trade.

 

[38mess]

If the yard is doing it try and get a price for the job, not an estimate.

 

[ithet]

I have a bigger Beneteau with a similar alloy fitting, bit I have seen quite a few that have had SS replacements fabricated. Which also gives the opportunity to improve on the standard now roller and fairlead arrangements.

 

[BobbyD]

Thanks for all the responses on this so far - v. helpfull. Am starting to look around for fabricators to understand what is possible along with cost - any recommendations for the Pembrokeshire area?