stemhead fitting

[yeatsfreak]

I broke my stemhead fitting and don't know where to get a new one:

http://june23rd.com/persuasion/yard/furler.jpg

I tried Spartan Marine, Bristol Bronze, and every chandlery that came up on the internet. All to no avail.

The part goes on a SouthCoast 23, yes it is plastic, but it is 40 years old and has all bronze hardware. It's a beauty.

Thanks for the help,
Jarrett

(Roger H, this is the boat on the end of your creek in Babylon. Persuasion. It's across from the gas dock.)

[Bob Cleek]

It does look a bit light to be carrying that big roller furling jib. Anyhow, welcome to the wonderful world of classic boats! Your fitting is probably a custom casting. If it was an off the shelf item when the boat was built, it's probably not available anymore. What to do? Cast a new one! Or have a new one cast. You may also wish to have it brazed, but I wouldn't trust as crucial a fitting to brazing.

I would also consider beefing up the fitting. You can increase the size of the bail and feel a bit more secure.

You should have a foundry in your town or nearby. They will be able to help you out. Bring them the broken fitting and they should be able to cast a new one, probably using the old as a pattern. Since it is relatively small, and given its shape, I don't think shrinkage will be much of a factor.

You might also email Bob Smalser who posts in here a lot. He mentioned he had a bronze casting set up in his shop. Maybe, if you offered him some really good scotch...

[StevenBauer]

Bristol Bronze will cast antthng you want if you have a pattern. Give Roger a call.

Or look at Classic Marine in England.

www.classicmarine.co.uk (http://www.classicmarine.co.uk)

Or maybe Davey
www.davey.co.uk (http://www.davey.co.uk)

[JimConlin]

It's not commonly done to hang a load like that on a casting. Is there a strap of some kind down over the front of the stem? Got a photo from that angle?

[John Meachen]

For a one off,it might be faster and cheaper to find a friendly welder and make a replacement from stainless steel.It would not look out of place against the pulpit leg and might be stronger than the original.

[yeatsfreak]

Those are all great ideas. I have been working with Bristol Bronze for about two weeks. I get more mail from RW than I get from m y own mother. We tried one that was too small and then one that was too big. I sent him my old one in hopes that he can make a new one (and thereby add to his available inventory).

I also contacted Pt Townsend people, who offered good advice, but no part.

There is a tang, I guess, that reaches down the front of the boat 7". I was surprised to find that there was only one bolt (machine screw) holding the fitting to the deck, and two holding it into the hull.

Thanks,
Jarrett

http://june23rd.com/persuasion/

[chucksw]

I'd replace that with a stainless stemhead fitting. Stronger, less corrosion from disimilar metals, and as you found out a stainless toggle can work through the soft bronze casting in no time.

Chuck

[Gary E]

Any good fab shop can weld one of those up in no time and at very modest cost when you compare to the expense of a casting. Look in your yellow pages, there must be a hundred within 20 miles of you.

[Bob Smalser]

http://june23rd.com/persuasion/yard/furler.jpg

I also suspect your old one can be easily repaired by brazing in a piece of SB or SS plate.

I could also easily line holes in bronze castings with SS pipe filed flush.

But it also appears your fitting wasn't designed for and isn't beefy enuf for the additional stresses of roller reefing, and you might benefit from fabricating a heavier one of SS plate.

[ 07-12-2005, 10:45 AM: Message edited by: Bob Smalser ]

[yeatsfreak]

I spoke with the Bristol Bronzemen today and they are going to be making me a new one. Unfortunately it's going to take a few weeks. Seems one of their castings guys is on vacation until Monday. Then, hopefully, the moldmaking and creation can be done in two weeks. Yikes. It could be faster, but I'm expecting the worst.

What kills me is all the time spent away from the GF, in the ice and snow over the winter, fixing and rebuilding so I could be sailing every day in July and August (I'm a teacher). And now I sit.

Looking on the bright side I can now finish the varnish, paint the cabin, mount the battery like it should be, and shop for a new traveller.

The beat goes on...

Jarrett

http://june23rd.com/persuasion/