[Rhodes22-list] Re] bow eye repair

[Alex Bell]

Folks,

The bow eye should be a very firm and strong attachment point. It should 
have an outer backing plate as well as an inner backing plate. Some 
boats have the forestay tang tied to the bow eye for strength and that 
tang acts as the inside backing plate. It is a hole in the hull that 
should be waterproofed.

The solution to a bow eye pulling out lies within. You should go to the 
inside of the hull and check the backing plate and secure the nuts. Not 
sure about the Rhodes 22 construction there, but it would make sense 
that the forestay tang is tied in, since it would greatly increase the 
strength and not cause strain to the foredeck to hull bonding. The 
problem is always "How to get to the fitting"

I would get a deck inspection port/plate from West Marine or other 
supplier that is suitable in size, cut a hole in the interior liner to 
gain access to the bow eye fitting and install the deck plate.You could 
also make a wooden or plastic plate to cove the hole and use stainless 
screws in the corners.  It would be normal practice to install a bow eye 
with a backing plate and nylock nuts. Those are the anti-backup nuts 
with a nylon liner. I have not seen them work backwards and loosen, but 
I guess it could happen. The bow where the eye comes out should be the 
strongest place on the hull, so you shouldn't see any problem with the 
laminate. However, you could use tape to dam it up and pour in some 
epoxy if it seems to be weak. Fiberglass mat could be added if you think 
it's weak, but I doubt that would be necessary.  I would replace the 
nylock nuts with new ones as a safety issue. Tighten the nuts as far as 
they can go after you have loosened the eye and applied calking. I use 
Life-Calk. This stuff seems to multiply as you use it. For every gob of 
goop you get back two gobs in the cleanup.

Here's a quick tip for cleanup. The calk will clean up easily with the 
application of WD-40. Who-a-thunk it? As a lubricant, it stinks, but it 
has other uses.  BTW, 3M-5200 is glue which is brittle and can work open 
with movement, as in a bow eye pulled by trailer winch. It would allow 
water to leak in. You want the flexible sealant/caulk for something like 
the bow eye. Kizmet had leaks around the chain plates where the factory 
had used 5200. I used a handy grinder to grind out a "V" around the 
chainplates and rebedded with Life Calk.

Alex Bell



Peter Thorn wrote:

>Barney and Saroj,
>
>You might want to consider GE 4200 or 3M 101 sealant for the bow eye  (both
>polysulfides and available at West Marine). Polysulfide is quite pliable and
>seals very well, but parts can be removed in the future.  GE 5200 is
>polyurethane and will permanently bond the bow eye to the hull.  If the new
>bow eye ever needed replacing again, it would be pretty hard to get it out.
>
>PT
>
>
>
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "Saroj Gilbert" <saroj at pathfind.net>
>To: <bestpestcontrol at earthlink.net>; "The Rhodes 22 mail list"
><rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>Sent: Friday, July 22, 2005 10:44 AM
>Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Saroj
>
>
>  
>
>>that makes a lot of sense.. thanks a bunch...
>>Saroj
>>----- Original Message ----- 
>>From: <bestpestcontrol at earthlink.net>
>>To: "rhodes22-list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>>Sent: Friday, July 22, 2005 8:43 AM
>>Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Saroj
>>
>>
>>    
>>
>>>Saroj, after removing the part or parts I took the nuts off the new bow
>>>eye and ran the new bow
>>>eye in and out of the holes several times to clean the holes out . at
>>>      
>>>
>this
>  
>
>>>time check to make sure it isnt moist in the holes--if it is moist dont
>>>put the new eye in until the holes dry out--if  the
>>>holes are dry I used 3M 5200 both in the holes(generously) and on the
>>>exterior mating surface
>>>I personally like to use too much sealant and wipe off the excess when
>>>done.  once you apply
>>>sealer install the new eye right away--let it set overnight--then
>>>      
>>>
>tighten
>  
>
>>>the nuts just a little more and that should do the job.
>>>Barney
>>>__________________________________________________
>>>Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>>>      
>>>
>>__________________________________________________
>>Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>>    
>>
>
>__________________________________________________
>Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
>
>
>  
>