Shroud attachments (part II)

[bumblefish]

I recently asked for advice on methods of beefing up my U bolt shroud attachments on my Elizabethan 30. Lots of advice given and quite varied. I also contacted the members of the Elizabethan Owners Association who had/have an E30 to ask how their shrouds were attached. Also a range of replies. So this question is to ask the forum about one particular suggestion. If an angled bracket was installed beneath the U bolt below the deck which was also attached to the topside by 2 or 3 bolts would this lead to strain on the topside in very localised areas in the absence of backing plates, which would need to be on the outside of the topside?
I am currently considering putting new chain plates through the existing toe rail, bit of chopping required, and backing these up with substantial plates inboard. This may reduce the maximum sheeting angle of the genoa but is probably the most robust solution.

 

[mikejames]

If I understand you correctly, that kind of sideways pull on the hull of a boat from brackets on the shrouds leads to dimples and stress cracks. For instance Westerlys managed that on some of their smaller models where the shrouds dont line up with bulkheads or internal vertical structures. On the GK24 fractional rig they rely on bars to the hull at 45 degrees to the deck. The whole lot twists. Better off with internal wires or bars going to bulkheads which are more inline with the pull of the shrouds.

 

[bumblefish]

Thank you, that is what I thought, better off with 'proper' chain plate attached to the topsides if there are no suitable bulkheads?

 

[dulcibella]

The previous owner of my old Halmatic 30 tried the angle bracket idea (onto an adjoining bulkhead. It didn't work. The horizontal bit dug into the deck at its free edge and started tearing the fixings through the bulkhead.

 

[William_H]

Regarding attaching to the topsides I would suggest rather than drill and bolt through the hull, that you consider epoxy and f/g of either a piece of ply wood of fairly large proportions or a similar sized piece of stainless steel plate with many holes drilled in it for the resin to squeeze through to join f/g on the outside to inside. Roughen up the surface and make sure it is not greasy. The ss plate can be bent out to make an attachment or you could fit bolt heads through from the hull side before glassing in.... olewill