Stanchion removal

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Gwylan

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We have recently lost a stanchion, bust, broken, bent, terminal failure, typical end of life scenario. What ever you call it. The stanchion has returned to the fjords it has been pining for, for so long.

It has broken off in an unequal fight with the spring tide, the decomposing pontoon and the prevailing wind.

Anyway, we now have a stump to remove from the base, which remains firmly connected to the boat.

After 20+ years in place how do I remove the bolt that passes through the base and the stanchion? It feels as if it is welded in place. Well it is sort of..
It laughs at screwdrivers and I'm reluctant to get the impact screwdriver on it as I might loosen the base.

Do I just[?] drill out the old bolt and move on? Got a new drill and set of cobalt bits for Christmas - so that could cope with the job.

Suggestions, tricks, much appreciated.

Also a supplier of 30" or 760 mm aluminium stanchions would be much appreciated. Have looked at Trafalgar and they will be the fall back if no other candidate emerges. always assuming I can get the stump of the old one removed
 
It may depend on the material of the stanchion base and the stump. If they are both alloy and corroded together as only alloy can, then drilling and grinding may be the only answer. I had some old stanchions that were stuck but S/S in bronze bases. In this case heat was the answer, it took more than I expected but freed them up in the end. Fortunately they were held in by split pins not bolts.
 
Leighb said:
It may depend on the material of the stanchion base and the stump. If they are both alloy and corroded together as only alloy can, then drilling and grinding may be the only answer. I had some old stanchions that were stuck but S/S in bronze bases. In this case heat was the answer, it took more than I expected but freed them up in the end. Fortunately they were held in by split pins not bolts.
Click to expand...

Yes, its alloy on alloy, so not good news. Boiling water, or the wall paper stripper coming to mind. Then drill out the bolt, hope it was a cheap soft one that they used. We'll see what the collective wisdom can offer.
 
Gwylan said:
Also a supplier of 30" or 760 mm aluminium stanchions would be much appreciated. Have looked at Trafalgar and they will be the fall back if no other candidate emerges. always assuming I can get the stump of the old one removed
Click to expand...

Does your reference to Trafalgar mean that this is a ... mature ... Westerly? If so, beware. Although the stanchions are the same diameter, the layout of mounting holes on the Sowester bases changed and modern bases will not fit older boats. I learned this the hard way. If you're in that position, take as much care as you can not to damage the base.

That said, I think I would hacksaw the stanchion off flush with the base, take both outer ends of the bolt off with a dremel (other high speed tools are available), cut the inside at both ends with a wire saw and then drift the remaining bits into the 'ole down the middle.
 
Note also, that if your westerly stanchions are anything like mine, they've got a little bend in them which in the one I replaced I achieved using a vice and brute force along with which went the concern about weakening/breaking. It still doesn't *quite* match the others. The ones Trafalgar sell have a nice little bend in already.
 
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