Hinging a Fairline Carrera Radar Arch

RCKWilson

RCKWilson

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Further to my other post concerning the above I am now going to have my arch hinged. I have had a quote to have the job done. It appears to be a lot of money and wondered if anyone has ever done one themselves.

Is it something that could be done with some assistance or is it false economy and risky?

Can anyone recommend a company that could supply suitable hinges and fixings.

Any advice greatly recieved.
 
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Bear in mind that the arch will be very heavy so you will need some hefty hinges and you dont want them rusting so they should really be good quality marine stainless steel. You will also need to do a neat job of the cutting and finishing if it is ever to look right.
 
A friend of mine has done this on his Fairline. Can't remember which Fairline it is, but circa mid '80's, aft cabin/centre cockpit, semi displacement.

He sawed through his arch, and it hinges nicely to get thru the King John Bridge at Tewkesbury.
 
RCKWilson said:
Further to my other post concerning the above I am now going to have my arch hinged. I have had a quote to have the job done. It appears to be a lot of money and wondered if anyone has ever done one themselves.

Is it something that could be done with some assistance or is it false economy and risky?

Can anyone recommend a company that could supply suitable hinges and fixings.

Any advice greatly recieved.
Click to expand...

You probably cannot buy ready made hinges and fixings,they will have to be custom built or modified to suit your job from stainless.The arch is not that heavy(is hollow so can be lifted easily by one keen chap)but will need at actual least two of you when you cut it off.
The problem will be the design of hinges and fixings holding it to the glassfibre.
There will be some massive loads around screws/bolts when hinge is horizontal and it starts to go up.Unless securely fastened screws/bolts securing arch/rams will rip out of glass and getting penny washers or similar inside your arch or inside sealed boat sections to spead the load will be fun.
There are people around on the Thames who have done this before and know the wrinkles,but good luck and over engineer like hell if you have a go yerself.
 
It's a Fairline Carrera 1988. I've seen one done with stainless hinges and latches attached to the sides. I assume being hollow a stainless backplate and grp filling and polished ends will do the job.
 
Can confirm that it is foam filled not solid glass fibre and not overly heavy,the ends would need filling and glassing,cables extended and then the hinges fitted
i reckon with the low briges where you are it would need to fold back
Someone from here can recommend a specialist stainless fitting supplier i'm sure
another option would be unbolt the radar arch and get the canopy modified to suit with a folding stainless roll bar
I've seen Carrera's without the radar arch and they look great
 
Hi Thanks again.

We would prefer to keep the arch. Do you think it is possible to do it ourselves. My only concern is getting a good clean cut and straight! Any ideas?

I could always unbolt the arch which I guess would make it easier.
It's just that for £1400 it seems a high price for the job.
 
tape up the cut site measure then mark then measure again(then check measurments);)

Buy all your parts and glass fibre,resin,filler and gelcoat

Decide via research what you are going to cut it with
1.jig saw with an "upside down blade
2.Grinder
3.Rotozip

Then go for it
 
My boat has a hinged top although the top can't move, it's standard on all Dorals, see if there is a doral near you and have a look at it, may help you.

sP
 
its not that easy.
£1400 is not a rip off.
there will need to be two crane charges
If not done on site also lorry transport charges.

I did my fairline corniche
Dsc00675.jpg


Bespoke box hinges to go over the fibreglass, not easily made as the fabricator will need the angle hence transport costs to get both halves (3 bits really) to them.

Now the bit about cutting with a jig saw............

if you just cut both sides off it will not open/close.

You have to slice the whole top off like using a 10ft long saw.

And remember the arch is 1 ft wide so you need to work out the best angle to chop it so the protruding bit isnt higher than the bit you have cut off.

Have a look at an Atlantic and note that they have taken the hinge from the base, if it is possible to do that it would be much easier than slicing the arch off.

Good luck :)


Once you have it made you need a couple of stainless plates to bolt on the sides for rough sea work.
 
they are talking about hinges attached to the sides plus retaining catch opposite. Boat is currently on a jig so can be moved around.
 
Yes it's bolted on. Do you think it would be better to hinge where it's bolted rather than cutting? I don't think it's that heavy being hollow. Bye the way the window is attached to the lower part of the arch. I guess the fixings could be removed.
 
hlb said:
Daka, why could you not hinge from the join, seems most obvios,
Click to expand...

I agree its the best place to hinge from.
I mentioned aa Atlantic for that reason, thats where they hinge from.
just found this ignore the fancy hydraulics but this is where you really need to hinge from.

Mine couldnt go from the join , there were other considerations on flybridge like where does it rest and how do you hoist it back up so I decided to hinge 1/4 way up the arch.
It also meant I didnt have to alter any stainless which gave the arch and seating areas strength.
Much of this isnt relevant for OP situation.

I was going to keep my nose out until I saw mention of jig saw and thought i best mention potential hickups.
 
RCKWilson said:
Yes it's bolted on. Do you think it would be better to hinge where it's bolted rather than cutting? I don't think it's that heavy being hollow. Bye the way the window is attached to the lower part of the arch. I guess the fixings could be removed.
Click to expand...

You can get the stainless parts from Cooney marine in Kettering (they make the stainless parts for Fairline), I wouldn't worry about hydraulics it should not be to heavy to lift.
 
DAKA, great photo, bet you've been waiting for ages for the right opportunity to post the pic of your boat going past Tower Bridge eh?
 
I have now decided to have the Marina do the job (the old Fairline factory site) and next to the Fairline new site. Already cut and awaiting next stage.

I bottled out on doing it myself! Thanks anyway for all the help and advice.
 
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