Repositioning a winch and cleat

[mike_bryon]

Please advise how I should go about moving my fore-main sheet winch and cleat. I am installing solar panels (walk-on semi flexable) and unless I move them to another position on the coach roof the fore-main sheet will pass over one of the panels causing a shadow.

The lining in the saloon is a single piece of bonded glass fibre so I can’t get to the underside of the fittings to see how they are backed and make sure sufficient backing is in place in the new position.

Any advice welcomed.

 

[maxi77]

Without knowing the boat I suspect you will find that both your winches and cleats will be through bolted through both the coachroof and some backing pads.. Thus it is unlikely you can remove them without getting undeneath. Equally I do not see how you can both secure and re-inforce the new mounting points without underside access.

 

[mike_bryon]

Thanks for the reply it helped me fully realise the fix I’m in. I can’t bring myself to cut a large hole in the saloon roof to gain access to the underside of the winch and cleat. So, plan B is to reroute the sheet by fitting a strong point through the coach-roof and attaching a block. Once I drill through I will realise if I will have a problem with compression but sounding the spot with a hammer suggests it is solid. Fingers crossed.

 

[maxi77]

If you cannot get to the underside I do not see how you can secure a strong point. Surely there must be some way to get the saloon deckhead lining off.

 

[mike_bryon]

The deck is foam filled sandwich (with struts) there is no deckhead lining just the lower sheet of the glassfibre sandwich which is the width and length of the saloon (looks great but does not allow access to the underside of the coachroof where the foremain sheet winch and cleat are located).

Plan B will involve drilling completely through the sandwich and bolting an eye all the way through. Testing the site with a hummer suggests the location is solid and may in fact be an extension of the backing to the winch and cleat. It will mean that you will see a large washer and nut on the deckhead in the saloon.

I can’t see any alternative to this other than opening up a really quite big area of the deckhead and then making a cover for it (could end up looking a bit rubbish). Unless someone on this forum talks me out of it I plan to drill through this weekend and see what I find. I getting nervous thinking about it.

Hope this is clearer and thanks again

 

[grumpygit]

I'll try and talk you out of it MB, but it is very difficult without seeing the problem with ones own eyes.
If you saw the construction of a hull, deck, or coach roof that had a sandwich of foam or balsa you would realise why not.
On the build the sandwiching is left out anywhere a winch, chainplate, cleat etc. and it is beefed up and bonded with layer upon layer of GRP (30+) sometimes with a s/s plate bonded within it. A lot of the latest builds use Kevlar as well. All this can spread out to at the least 6 x the area of the widest point of what is been fitted.
So yes you can cut a hole and make a cover for the underside but is there enough strength in the deck ? If not do you want to cut a big enough hole to fit any strengthening ?
I had a similar dilemma but bit the bullet and having s/s stanchions made to fly aft.
Just another point to think about, where you are mounting the panels seems to be a busy area and you might suffer badly with shadowing over the panels.

Hope this does not burst your bubble to much. It's only my opinion and that may not count for much.
/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

--------------------------------------------------------

 

[mike_bryon]

Well I drilled through the deck and found almost 2 inches of solid glass fibre with a sheet of ¼ inch aluminium embedded for good measure. I have fitted a stainless steel eye bolt and attached a block to redirect the sheet.

Thanks for the advice it might have been a different outcome without it,

Best wishes

Audible sigh of relief from Dark Horse.

 

[grumpygit]

That is good news. You could not have wished for a better outcome. I can imagine the sigh of relief. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Onwards and upwards !

________________________________________