Repair Bow D-Ring?

[usererror]

Can anyone shed any light on what I should do regarding the D-Ring on the bow? It looks like it has been 'yanked' forward. It was like this when I got it and the previous owner said he never had any issues, but I'd like to fix it.

Is it accessible from in the bow area of the cabin? I saw a panel at the top that can be removed, but I have not done it yet.

Here is a photo of the ring right now. The trailer crank line is slacked so its not pulling on it all winter.

[seahouse]

Sorry, I can't comment or help on that specifically, but it might be a potential leak point.

But I will say, to add to the database, that I supported the weight of the entire front half of my M by that D ring while painting the bottom. Without any deformation or protest from the hull.

Of course, the force was straight vertical, not in a direction to pull outward as yours appears to be. That area is one of the strongest in any hull.

I did it because I'm lazy, and I did not want any "Achillies heels" in the paint where one coat started and the next ended.

[Catigale]

It looks like the nut on the back f the bolt has worked loose. Accessible from berth as you note. I would fix this pronto, you will side load the FG if the bolt is loose and this could do more damage.

[opie]

try this

or this

or maybe this

[THE CUSCUS]

The factory "backing plate" for the bow eye was usually a piece of cut down 2x4 (pine), which probably has rotted, allowing your eye to move around a bit. The simple, quick fix is to remove the rotted wood (it does have some fiberglass mat over it, so you will have to cut that away) and make another backing plate out of wood. I left the glass mat in place, and dug out the rotted wood, then filled the cavity with epoxy resin (alowing the holes for the bow eye to fill also). Redrilled the holes from the outside and used a piece of aluminum flat stock as a backing plate. I also bought a bow eye with longer threaded ends to accomodate the thicker built up area. And of course, proper bedding of the bow eye is critical to keep this from happening again. You can access the nuts on the bow eye by removing that piece of wood "trim" in the bow. You may find it easier to make that access area "bigger" (see my picture). I cover that whole flat area with a nicely stained piece of wood (sorry no picture of that yet).

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ewimg=2696

[usererror]

FANTASTIC! Thank you for the replies!! I am heading out for vacation for two weeks coming up but I'll definitely tackle this as soon as I am back home. I am so relieved it'll be an easy fix.

I may hit up our scrap yard to find a piece of metal plating to put over a new 2x4 piece, I am going to assume that the previous one is also rotted out. Bummer because I just recycled a bunch of pieces this weekend.

Thank you again everyone!

Cuscus - I like what you've done for your anchor chain storage area that is awesome! What does it look like top side? How do you keep water from getting in?

[THE CUSCUS]

USERERROR, thanks for the compliment!! Checkout my full anchor/rode storage mod in the mods section here: http://www.macgregorsailors.com/modt/in ... ?view=1403 The hinged lid on the hawse pipe keeps the water out ( I don't make it a practice to put my bow through large waves, in which case I suppose a small amount of water would come in, but would just go down into the bilge area).

I have since replaced the fortress anchor with a delta, that stores on the anchor roller.

[Freedom77]

YOu should be able to access the boat from the inside. As I have mentioned on numerous posts, I ALWAYS back up thru hull/deck fitting with heavy aluminum backing plates. When you replace wood, use oak, make metal backing plate same size. As mentioned it looks like maybe the nut has worked loose. Fix ASAP to avoid damage. Great anchor storage CUSCUS. I keep anchor, 30 ft of chain and 300 ft of line stowed under V-berth. Fair Winds and Full Sails....Old Salt.

[mrbillfll]

I had to cut the inner liner on my to access the bow eye.

little washers and some rotted pine wood were all that held it in place. I got the longest bow eye WM sells (6"?) and added thickened epoxy and large fender washers.

if I were to go in there again, I'd add 2 bow eyes.... one above the other... for a safety on the trailer.

[Boblee]

Hope it's not as much a pain as the getting in behind there but looks like its come loose and there should be a steel backing plate although if it's been loose for a while?

[MacStonge]

I cut a 4-inch access hole in the bow panel and installed a standard threaded cover so I can get back in there to retighten if needed. That space was/is full of chunks of styrofoam...I suppose as part of the flotation, but I can't imagine it would make much difference. I also used a piece of flat aluminum as a backing plate for the bow-eye bolts instead of wood.

I like the idea of the anchor locker conversion. Obviously an oversight by the factory!
Cheers

[arknoah]

I had to cut the inner liner on my to access the bow eye.

little washers and some rotted pine wood were all that held it in place. I got the longest bow eye WM sells (6"?) and added thickened epoxy and large fender washers.

if I were to go in there again, I'd add 2 bow eyes.... one above the other... for a safety on the trailer.

This makes sense. I'll look at mine as well.

[usererror]

I was able to get mine out last weekend without cutting the inner lining. Here a two pictures from what I found. I cannot see down there myself so I had to use my phone camera to get pictures to see what was going on.

I had to pull out a whole bunch of pieces of white Styrofoam. Is this necessary?

Bow Ring, there was no block of wood!! Very tiny washers on the bottom bolt.


Styrofoam:

[THE CUSCUS]

There is wood in there! It has a piece of fiberglass mat over it. You can see in your picture that the lower nut has pulled through the mat somewhat and is into the rotted wood, which is why your bow ring is so loose. Under your v-berth is probably full of that white foam too. Make sure to put it back or you will sink!!
(JK of course)

[usererror]

I didn't think those pieces of styrofoam were doing anything at all. I knew there was more, I was just baffled to why someone would put random chunks in there. If I really stuck an iceberg here in Lake Michigan, those pieces would just float away!!

I am going to place a new piece of new treated wood over that fiberglass mat with the new longer ring I bought since only the bottom one is busted. I hope to get this done this weekend.