Princess Folding Arch

[Dino]

Hi, a friend recently bought a Princess 380 with a fixed radar arch. The boat is based on inland waters so he wants to modify the arch to allow it to fold.
Is there any company specialising in this type of work who might fabricate a set of stainless steel hinges?
Ideally he needs a hinge with spigots to suit the profile of the arch and a gas strut to help with the load.
The boat is based in Ireland so cannot be brought to a yard in the UK.
Any recommendations?
Thanks!
Dino

 

[oldgit]

Virtually every inland water way will have low bridges under which most flybridge boats simply will not pass..
There will always be a couple of boatyards with experience of removing arches and
fabricating the stainless custom hinges needed to lower the mast.
The hinges will need to spread the load over a considerable area of the arch and the boat superstructure in order not get a load of stress cracks in the gelcoat and underlying glassfibre appearing at some point in the future.
Probably needs to decide wether to go electric or hydraulic or if the rams are merely there to assist lowering /raising the mast manually or to go fully powered.
Might be worth posting on the Thames forum as virtually all boats need to lower something to get under bridges such as Windsor. 12ft 6 inches.
Do not under engineer.
Some boats simply remove the arch(usually bolted on) and manage without.

 

[PlanB]

Also make sure that any flybridge rails and coaming are under the air draft height.

 

[oldgit]

Also make sure that any flybridge rails and coaming are under the air draft height.

The flybridge screen is probably the highest part of the boat after removal of arch on most early Fairline or Princess.
Unless of course somebody has installed Nav kit on the fly , any large bracket mounted display screen fixed on top of dash will need to be taken into consideration.

 

[Newbroom]

If you are going to be inland consider having the hinges made out of mild steel. Much cheaper more fabricators working with mild steel than in Stainless and with the correct protection very slow deterioration of the hinge.
Personally after having both hydraulic and manual gas struts I would plump for gas struts. Much cheaper and easier to retro fit and if calculated and adjusted right is finger tip lowering and raising.

 

[Dino]

Thanks for the input folks. I think we will have to talk to a good fabrication shop. I think stainless steel is the only way to go. The saving on materials would not be worth going for over mild steel.
If anyone spots a P380 with a hinged arch I would be grateful of a photo.
Thanks

 

[Newbroom]

Its not a cost saving but a choice of more fabricators