Just a thought ... anyone ADDED a Transom Arch ?

Refueler

Refueler

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I am aiming at the smaller sailboat ... 20 - 28ft ... where its not often you see a transom arch.

I have long considered the possibility of adding an arch to my Sunrider 25 ... I have to lower my mast for bridges to get to Baltic ... and the present arrangement has a wooden X affair lashed to pushpit rail.

jx9dZtZl.jpg


But an arch would provide a much better permanent affair and also be suitable for mounting other items.

I have to admit though .. when I see sites advertising add-on arches at over 2000 euros ex works ... it makes me 'cough' !!

Interested if anyones designed their own or had one fitted ??
 
I made an arch to carry two solar panels plus a few small antennae. I used straight tubing and standard fittings with one pair of uprights clamped to the pushpit and the other pair bolted to the transom. It's not the most beautiful you will see but it has worked well for many years.
 
vyv_cox said:
I made an arch to carry two solar panels plus a few small antennae. I used straight tubing and standard fittings with one pair of uprights clamped to the pushpit and the other pair bolted to the transom. It's not the most beautiful you will see but it has worked well for many years.
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Having seen the prices for add-ons for pushpits ... I'm thinking along same lines as yourself.
 
I built one for a rib, years back. I made it in foam core GRP, the outside fair face was laid up on an old kitchen worktop. Made in 3 parts, 2 uprights and a horizontal, epoxied together, and sprayed white. It carried my nav lights, gps and vhf antenna etc. It looked reasonably smart, sufficiently so that I would do it again even on our current boat, a fairly shiny Dragonfly 920 if it needed one.
 
Our local DIY emporium has some nice chromed alloy pipe that with suitable joiners could fashion into a reasonable arch. The question being whether capable of taking the weight of mast . I did look at plastic water pipe as we often use as awning support - but that would look exactly what it is .. water pipe cobbled together.

Wonder what it would look like if made in wood ??
 
Is their a specific reason aluminium tube is not commonly used ? I understand about protecting different metals particularly in a saltwater environment. My boat has a non functional wind genny ( don't ask ) on an aluminium pole which is cobbled to the pushpit via 4 stainless jubilee clips. Been like this cica 6 years and shows no sign of any corrosion.
 
wingcommander said:
Is their a specific reason aluminium tube is not commonly used ? I understand about protecting different metals particularly in a saltwater environment. My boat has a non functional wind genny ( don't ask ) on an aluminium pole which is cobbled to the pushpit via 4 stainless jubilee clips. Been like this cica 6 years and shows no sign of any corrosion.
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I think the reason is more likely strength than corrosion, alloy parts are strong in compression, not so much if you’ve got a loaded horizontal element. Though I can’t imagine refuellers mast being truly massive, weight wise. There might be some shock loading of course, plus whilst the mast is down it could easily get heavily leaned on. I’d be making this structure strongly, just as he seems to be thinking of.
 
My mast is heavy for its size ..... takes two strong people to carry .....

When its lowered but heel still pivoting at step .... the transom support is only just past mid point. This makes mast balancing on the support.

qxBY5bil.jpg


It puts quite a bit of strain on that support.
 
vyv_cox said:
I made an arch to carry two solar panels plus a few small antennae. I used straight tubing and standard fittings with one pair of uprights clamped to the pushpit and the other pair bolted to the transom. It's not the most beautiful you will see but it has worked well for many years.
Click to expand...
Do you have photos? I'd be very interested in doing something similar to carry solar panels.
 
Minerva said:
If your boat is smaller in stature, you may find that a standard "A Frame" designed to fit a rib wall fit off shelf;

Roll Bar For RIBS S/S 316 Adjustable
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I did look at RIB arches ..... and much better priced than some !! But they all rely on fastening to the deck - I would be looking to try use the Pushpit itself as i have a full wraparound rail with strong verticals. This makes any deck fastened arch difficult to fit ..
 
The neatest solution would be to have some suitably shaped tubes welded to the pushpit. That kind of engineering is surprisingly well priced provided its not done at a boatyard. If I were doing that, I’d take the pushpit off and take it home first, to the shed. Then to the welders
 
Chiara’s slave said:
The neatest solution would be to have some suitably shaped tubes welded to the pushpit. That kind of engineering is surprisingly well priced provided its not done at a boatyard. If I were doing that, I’d take the pushpit off and take it home first, to the shed. Then to the welders
Click to expand...
There are fittings that do this quite well.IMG_20220916_182313~2.jpg
 
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I have had passing thoughts about using carbon fibre tubes as opposed to stainless, right angle joints also exist. A considerable weight saving although the eye might have to get use to the visuals
 
I put up an arch for the ongoing work on a friend's Trapper. Used 19mm SS tube in two frames, with a big solar panel fitted. Welded lugs on the existing 'push-pit'
Cost of tube was around around €60 (?) and I made a draw bender for the curves. Could have used bought curves, but fancied the bender for future work.
That was three years ago? (covid confusion..) Still up there and rigid.
 
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