Do it myself?

[KREW2]

I have a badly bent stanchion post, which I have just removed from the boat ( about 25 degrees off upright) can I straighten this myself, or is it best taken to a metal fabricator?

 

[Medskipper]

It does depend how damaged it is, but you will propbably have to purchased another one or have one made to measure.

Own up then! how did it happen??

Barry

 

[flaming]

I'd get it done profesionally if in any dount. if you bodged it then you could seriously weaken the metal. Not exactly ideal, especially if you're likely to have crew hiking off the wire.

 

[KREW2]

I have to confess.
It wasn't me /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif whoever did it knows, but didn't want me to be party to that info.
As I said it's bent in about 10cms angled at the base. I don't know what effect brute force and ignorance will have on it. If it cracks I will have to renew all the guard rail wire on one side, as the terminals are swaged.

 

[mainmarine]

If you have to cut the guardwires, why not join them again with a norseman/stalock fitting.

 

[VicMallows]

I think it will also depend on whether it's a S/S tube stanchion or a thick tapered ally one. I needed to put a slight bend in a new ally one (about 1/3rd up) and even using a floor standing bending machine it was a devil of a job. Near the base I don't think youi'd stand a chance.

Vic

 

[William_H]

it is hard to imagine you could straighten without removing it. (and cutting wires) However you have to try at least to straighten it in situ. you need a strong tube or pole about 10ft long which you can clamp tightly to the bent part of the stanchion then get helpers to heave presumably outwards. Be carefull you don't damage the hull structure in bending. (check it may already be damaged).

Having tried and failed you can remove it and try bending straight in a press.
I used the trailer members (with boat on top) and a jack under neath to try to straighten a mast once (and failed it just sprung back to bent) but you can get a good bending force if you have suitable spaced members to push up between.
After all this has failed or you succeed but it looks too kinked then buy a new one. but good luck...........olewill

 

[boatmike]

Please don't try to straighten it on the boat. While it undoubtedly got bent that way you need to remove it. It's cheap to replace a stanchion but expensive to repair damaged GRP.
Check your local chandler to see if you can match a replacement before going to a fabricator. They are usually quite cheap. If not give it to a fabricator who will do it for you and repolish it if necessary afterwards.
Rather than replace the guardwires cut the aft end and replace with norseman quick release couplers which are longer anyway. If you ever have to recover a man overboard they could save a life (do both sides!)

 

[rogerthebodger]

I take it the stanchion is tube either aluminium or stainless. If the tube is kinked at the bend you will not get it back streight you will not be able to remove the kink.

The only way I have streightened stanchions is by cutting the bend out and welding a section in with a sleave inside to align the cut.

Done this a number or times with stainless never with aluminium as special welding needed that I dont have

 

[KREW2]

Thanks for all the advice, it is off the boat already and I have am going to take it to a metal worker. I have found one not far from the boat yard, I had a play with it but I could not even get the base off I felt I was doing more harm than good.
Judging by the replies it seems as if it's a job for the specialist. or a complete new guard rail, apparently the base fittings are hard to come by.