Straightening bronze bow roller

[aslabend]

Anyone know about straightening bow rollers?

The bow roller on Siri had a close encounter with something solid last week and has ended up rather bent. I think it's chromed bronze and was wondering how easy it would be to repair? There's a slight crack above the small hole at the top and I was wondering if it's going to spread if I try and straighten it with brute force?

For perspective, that's 8mm chain so it's quite a chunk of bronze.

 

[vyv_cox]

Drill a small hole at the root of the crack to stop it spreading any further. 2 mm diameter would normally be enough. Then I would try bending it cold. Perfect application for my oversize adjustable spanner, discussed recently. Otherwise a large pair of Stilsons would be just about ideal, as you could apply the load from on deck. I would not try any heat until you have tried everything else, as the chromium will be discoloured and maybe destroyed and, not knowing exactly the composition of the base metal, you could damage that also.

 

[millbeach]

Do not try to bend it back to shape while fixed to boat,sods law you will damage your boat.
Take off and place in vice, if will not bend maybe a little heat will help..

 

[LittleShip]

Take it off and take it to a fabrication company, they can strighten it and also repair the crack. No matter what you do it will still look like a repair as the chrome is already damaged and the cost of getting it done correctly is cheaper than having a botch job on the front of your boat.

The Previous owner of mine had also hit something and I ended up having the bronze repaired and replacing the wood work as well...... 2 pieces of teak £300

Tom

 

[aslabend]

Take it off and take it to a fabrication company, they can strighten it and also repair the crack. No matter what you do it will still look like a repair as the chrome is already damaged and the cost of getting it done correctly is cheaper than having a botch job on the front of your boat.

The Previous owner of mine had also hit something and I ended up having the bronze repaired and replacing the wood work as well...... 2 pieces of teak £300

Tom

Luckily the bow roller wasn't too pretty before (most of the chrome has gone over the 40 odd years). Unluckily, as you said, the teak toe rail was damaged with a crack down one side. All this happened while it was safely on it's mooring....... a pleasant surprise when I arrived.

 

[lw395]

It might be cheapest to get a new one made in stainless?

 

[aslabend]

It might be cheapest to get a new one made in stainless?

The thought had crossed my mind. The current one had a few issues a new bespoke one in stainless would cure. The problem is getting it made and fitted in the time Siri will be out the water having the woodwork fixed. I'll definitely bear it mind and will go and have a chat with the stainless fabricators on site (anyone used R S Welding – Unit 11, Wicormarine for anything?)