Broke a bolt

CaveLamb · 2011-01-30T02:59:31+00:00

I snapped a stanchion bolt the other day!1/4" stainless steel machine screw actually.Starboard stanchion by the cockpit. Forward inboard bolt.The stanchions get abused sometimes, people grabbing them or the lifelineswhile docking. This one was leaning forward an inch off of vertical, but seemedsturdy enough.I had the lifelines loose and was pulling on it (aft) - not all that hard!to straighten it up - And something went POP! Pretty loud tooInspecting it, it was pretty obvious what had happened, so Idug the bolt out and replaced it.This bolt (machine screw actually) had some serious corrosion issues.(See the attached photos)There is quite a bit of old damage on the mating surfaces.That's the dull gray part.And quite a bit of sealant over the old damage!The bright metal tab seems to be the place where it broke.There was NOT A LOT of metal there!I have recently learned that there is an aluminum plate buried in thedeck lay-up where the stanchions are attached.What say ye? Was this 20 years of dissimilar metal corrosion?(4 photos) soon as possible, ALL of the stanchions are going to be pulled andre-bedded.

Jan 30, 2011 20 Replies

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stans4 15 years ago

Are bronze fasteners available? I know monel is nasty stuff to work, but bronzes usually aren't.

Stan

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Broke a bolt

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