Loose stanchions

[eddystone]

A few of my stanchions have a fair amount of freeplay where they sit in the socket in the base; the base casting seems sound and securely attached to deck and the split pin is sound - any thoughts?

 

[sailorman]

They wont seize in their sockets
Mine have a wrap of PTFE, that might be the answer for you

 

[[70521]]

Some bright spark has bedded mine in a sealant, what were they thinking? I am having the dogs own breakfast getting them removed.

 

[rogerthebodger]

A few of my stanchions have a fair amount of freeplay where they sit in the socket in the base; the base casting seems sound and securely attached to deck and the split pin is sound - any thoughts?

What is the kind of gap between the stanchion and the hole in the base.

if its 3 mm as such you could look for some plastic bushed of the right size.

You could look for some aluminium of stainless steel tube and slit it down its length to fill the gap.

Some thin plastic sheet / plastic shim could also be cut to fill the gap by wrapping it around the stanchion then inserting into the base.

 

[Poignard]

...

Some thin plastic sheet / plastic shim could also be cut to fill the gap by wrapping it around the stanchion then inserting into the base.

Yes, that's all it needs. Some pieces cut off a plastic food container would do fine.

 

[Daydream believer]

How about hot melt adhesive
Warm them up to get them out
Warm the socket or stanchion a bit to put them in so the adhesive flows better

 

[ghostlymoron]

I've often seen electricians tape used for this - it doesn't look good.

 

[greeny]

Yes, that's all it needs. Some pieces cut off a plastic food container would do fine.

+1
margarine tub or if it needs to be thicker an ice cream tub.

 

[James_Calvert]

Let us know what you do. Mine have been like that from new. But it's only the one nearest the bow that ever gets annoying. Typically we've got beach towels drying on the guardrails and the wind has got up. So we bring the towels in and peace in the anchorage or marina resumes.

 

[eddystone]

I might just jam something in temporarily. At some stage I intend to re-fit the wires with a section I can unclip to step through so that will be an opportunity to rebed the stanchions into their bases.

 

[PetiteFleur]

If they are YS stanchions and bases, if you buy a replacement base now they come with a plastic split bush, They don't corrode solid like the early ones which didn't have the bush. I've had to replace all my stanchions and bases over the last few years. Perhaps give YS a call and see if they will sell a few bushes?
Are they like these?
https://www.proboat.co.uk/item/1/96/1068/YS-Fittings-Aluminium-Toe-Rail-Stanchion-Base

 

[Ruffles]

I'm pretty sure they are always fitted with an insulator of some sort.
Mine are and they have been there for many years.

 

[vyv_cox]

Duck tape for mine. Been like it for years.

 

[pagoda]

I used large diameter white heatshrink to take up most of the slack. Easy job, looks OK, Less wobble

 

[Poignard]

I used large diameter white heatshrink to take up most of the slack. Easy job, looks OK, Less wobble

Neat idea.

 

[Norman_E]

I used large diameter white heatshrink to take up most of the slack. Easy job, looks OK, Less wobble

It surprises me that heatshrink is not used by more people. On my boat the stations are stainless and sit in aluminium bases. Heatshrink was used fron new as it prevents direct contact and the sort of corrosion problems that can cause a stantion to sieze in place.

 

[eddystone]

Interesting wandered into Allspars in Plymouth looking for some stainless steel cotter pins and they suggested using nut and bolt instead of split pin.

 

[vyv_cox]

Interesting wandered into Allspars in Plymouth looking for some stainless steel cotter pins and they suggested using nut and bolt instead of split pin.

I replaced all the split pins in mine with nuts and bolts many years ago.

 

[Poey50]

I replaced all the split pins in mine with nuts and bolts many years ago.

Mine on the Sadler 32 (which I think you have also Eddystone) also had pins replaced with nuts and bolts. On some of my stanchions there was quite a lot of corrosion between bolt head and stanchion. So recently I wrapped duck tape round the stainless steel base - on advice from Vyv Cox, as above - and also added nylon washers between bolt head / nut and stanchion. The nuts are Nylocs so they don't need to be particularly tight. The corrosion pits were filled with J.B. Weld which seemed to do a good job.

 

[Poignard]

I replaced all the split pins in mine with nuts and bolts many years ago.

Me too.